The head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Ismail Hanyiah , revealed the priorities of Hamas during the coming phase

Hamas priorities

In a press conference held at Al Mashtal Hotel in Gaza City, Haniyeh reviewed Hamas’s  top priorities in the coming stage. He stated that the movement’s top priorities include confronting the brutal Israeli Occupation and usurpation of  land and holy places and constantly violating international law and conventions  whether related to oppression ,siege , confiscation of lands , Judaization and illegal settlement is. 

He pointed out that the most effective weapon in the face of these challenges is the unity of Palestinians which is based on a united national political vision which combines the efforts and abandons the futile negotiations which have only made false promises to the Palestinians.

Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque

Haniyeh affirmed that the issue of Jerusalem, being the center of the conflict, is Hamas’s  core  priority stating that Hamas has been working to protect the Arabism and Islamism of Jerusalem and   has countered all attempts to Judaize and change the demographic feature of the city and displace its citizens .

He added that Hamas will support the steadfastness of the its people to remain the symbol of struggle for the Palestinian people and Islamic nation.

Haniyeh stressed that all Israeli attempts  to impose a fait accompli in Al- Aqsa Mosque by schemes of Judaization, temporal and spatial division, continuous incursions , and allowing the members of the Knesset to enter Al Aqsa Mosque will not succeed. Al Aqsa Mosque is an Islamic site and Israeli  Occupation will not have a foothold there.   

He expressed Hamas’s rejection to assign the Buraq Wall to the Israeli Occupation stating that it is an integral part of Al Aqsa Mosque and cannot be waived in any way.

The Occupied West Bank

Haniyeh assured that the national dilemma in the West Bank is the result of security collaboration between the Israeli Occupation and the Palestinian Authority calling for an immediate end to it as  sound patriotic sense necessitates  and  also as part of  implementing the decisions of the Central Council.

He said that West Bank  will remain the center of the conflict and the symbol  of resistance  in all its forms which cannot be stopped . Haniyeh pointed out that Hamas will confront  the policy of abuse  and violation against the people in the West Bank by two parallel lines; the first is by supporting the steadfastness of  the people to resist the schemes and the attempts of the enemy, and the second is by resisting  the occupation by all possible means.

He declared  the support of Hamas to the MPs kidnapped by the Israeli Occupation last of whom were  MP. Muhammad Bader and MP. Khalidah Jarrar who are paying the price of their free stances, national courage and rejection of  the security collaboration.

Haniyeh emphasized the need to  support the steadfastness of the Palestinians in the Occupied Land of 1948 and to adopt their demands and rights.

Camps of the Diaspora

Haniyeh assured that the issue of asylum will not be a forgotten cause and that the refugees will remain the key of the Palestinian cause.  He also stated  that their issue is a political cause and the Right of Return is a sacred and an imprescriptible right.

Haniyeh continued, “ We will foil any attempt to the so-called solution of ‘alternative homeland’.”

He urged the Arab host counties , with full acknowledgement  of  their previous efforts, to provide  suitable living conditions for the Palestinian refugees in the camps. Haniyeh also called for the development and implementation of an Arab-Palestinian strategy to protect  the Right of Return and confront resettlement schemes. 

He called upon the United Nations to carry out its duties towards the refugees as an international body responsible for relief and employment of the Palestinian refugees until they return to their original homes in Palestine one day. 

Haniyeh stressed that Hamas and all the Islamic and national forces are working to protect  the Palestinians in Lebanon , to neutralize them from  the regional and local conflicts,  to strengthen  the Lebanese- Palestinian relations, and to follow up their political, humanitarian and social conditions.

He also added that they will continue to work and devise plans and programs to end the phase of marginalization until the Palestinians in diaspora, who are more than 6 million, take part in making  the Palestinian political decision and contribute  in the project of liberation.

Steadfast Gaza

Haniyeh  said that the steadfast Gazans, instead of being rewarded, are subjected to escalating measures of cutting their salaries, medicine and food and being prevented from receiving medical treatment abroad which has assumed the lives of innocent children lately

He asserted that Gaza will remain strong and will face all conspiracies until victory is achieved.

He continued, “ It is the time to end the siege on Gaza;  not tighten it.  We hold the Israeli Occupation directly responsible for  the siege on Gaza, and  we assure that the recent measures taken by Palestinian Authority have  damaged the Palestinian unity and we urge them to change their policy towards Gaza Strip.”

Haniyeh pointed out that in light of the dangerous developments and the measures taken by the Palestinian Authority PA against Gaza, Hamas had no choice but to take action to save the Gazans  and to provide them with the basic elements of life; electricity, medicine , travel , transportation, treatment and salaries.

He assured that the Hamas delegations visits to Egypt  are tangible evidence that Hamas is making tremendous efforts to save Gaza. Haniyeh also added that delegation has received serious promises  from Egypt to address the  Gaza crises.

Haniyeh stated that many discussions and understandings were made which concluded numerous  results and which will all have an impact on alleviating the burden of the inhumane siege against Gaza Strip.

He praised Egypt’s historic role and expressed Hamas’s appreciation for Egypt’s position. Haniyeh also expressed his hope for more efforts from the Egyptian side to implement  the Cairo Agreements and to restore the Palestinian unity.

Haniyeh emphasized that the Qatari support for Gaza has made great and concrete changes in the lives of Gazans . He added that Qatar has been the major supporter during the years of siege and its darkest hours. Haniyeh sent a message of thanks and appreciation to the State of Qatar and its prince .  .

Haniyeh also thanked all those who supported the Palestinian people and their resistance, especially Turkey which provided political , financial and humanitarian support.

In the same context, Haniyeh also thanked Iran for supporting resistance, especially El Qassam, the military Brigades of Hamas, and contributing in developing its military power. In addition, he thanked  the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  and all  free peoples of the world, governments, boards, members and whoever provided any help for the Palestinian people.

Regarding the ongoing  meetings held between Hamas and Palestinian factions to ease the siege of Gaza, Haniyeh said that the delegation of Hamas who recently visited Egypt headed by Yahay Al Senwar has reached many understandings which will positively affect the lives of Gazans and pave the way for a comprehensive national reconciliation.

 “ We will remain faithful to the principles of the Palestinian people, especially liberation of the land , Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque, the detainees, the Right of Return, and establishment of our Palestinian state and Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

Haniyeh stressed that  resistance is the source of pride for the Palestinian people and the free people of the world.

He pointed out that he took the leadership  of Hamas after great predecessors  like Khalid Meshal who succeeded  in developing  Hamas , protecting  its unity and  enhancing its role during difficult crises. 

He affirmed that Hamas recently released its Political Document which embedded its vision , principles, and objectives which  Hamas adheres to, and to  show the world that the movement  works  collectively with other factions in accordance with  a national strategy of politics and resistance.

The Palestinian cause:

Haniyeh added that what the Arab nations are going through today in terms of internal conflicts and conspiracies attempt to debilitate it and force it to succumb to foreign pressure to serve the interests of the nations’ foes, particularly the Israeli Occupation.

He said that as soon as the new American president was inaugurated, and with Israeli encouragement, attempts started to yield the results of these conspiracies and political games played against the Arab world to extort it, to end the  Palestinian cause and to secure an Arab and Islamic cover for what is called "a historical reconciliation."

In this context, Haniyeh  stressed that the Palestinian people should take the initiative to defend their national rights, bring their own house in order, and maintain an internal united front in order to send out a clear message to the whole world that the Palestinian people will stand against any political initiative that  fails to  secure independence, freedom, and the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. These initiatives will never pass whatever the cost.

He noted that the biggest flaw in the current Palestinian leadership is responding to  American dictations that attempt to target the Palestinian national assets and disfiguring their historical heritage. The American administration completely adopts the Israeli vision for the conflict.

In regards to cutting the civil workers' payment, Haniyeh said that Hamas will never abandon these Palestinian families.

He pointed out that achieving  Palestinian unity is an ultimate goal for Hamas, urging all  Palestinian parties including Fatah to implement all  previous reconciliation agreements such as  what has been agreed upon in Cairo, Doha, and Beirut. 

He said that Hamas is proud of the great level of joint work with the Islamic Jihad, and is pleased with the noticeable improvement in the relations with the PFLP.

"We are satisfied with our relations with all of our national participants and  are working to cooperate together for the benefit of our people and cause," he added.

Political Initiative

The head of Hamas political bureau launched a political initiative in which he called the national and Islamic movements to adopt a clear political program that is based on the aspirations of the Palestinian people. He asked for forming a national government that serves the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

He also said that this requires  preparations for holding fair and free legislative and presidential elections. He noted that the Beirut talks should be the basis for forming the national council.  The Palestinian legislative and executive organizations should be reactivated to perform their monitoring task. The security coordination with the Israeli occupation must be stopped by all means.

He noted that a conducive atmosphere should be prepared to accomplish this initiative by removing all the impediments like the latest controversial punitive measures adopted against Gaza.

Haniyeh added that after achieving all of this, the administrative committee  in Gaza will be cancelled. 

Arab Relations

Haniyeh stressed the movement's efforts to strengthen its relations with Arab and Islamic countries on the basis of mutual respect without the interference in their internal affairs and respecting the sovereignty of these countries and the aspirations of their peoples.

He pointed out that the policy is to open up to all the Arab and Islamic countries on a solid basis, and strengthen this strategy, without exception, in order to support, “our national cause, our resistance and our struggle against the Israeli Occupation and preserve our Holy sites.”

He went on saying, "We assure all our brothers in the Arab countries that they will only see virtue  from Hamas and we also wish them security, stability and protection of their homelands. The movement has always been committed to a constant strategy of resisting the Israeli Occupation only and limiting its resistance in occupied Palestine.”

Haniyeh also  denounced any form of extremism and terrorism that may spring from any individual or group, while further affirming Hamas’s stance on resistance saying it’s, “legitimate and  not terrorism;is rather an occupied nation’s only hope of gaining their rights and freedom.”

International Relations

Head of the Political Bureau said, “We seek to forge a clear relationship with the international community, institutions concerned with the Palestinian cause and the world's liberties, based on the justness of our cause and the strength of our rights and the solid ground that we stand on. Therefore, we ask everyone to cooperate with us on the basis of the Palestinian rights while understanding Hamas’s  ideology and stance and ignoring the malignant Israeli propaganda.”

Haniyeh also expressed his thanks and appreciation to all the countries that rejected the attempts to isolate Hamas and did not respond to the unjust and biased American designation of Hamas as a “terror organization", saying, “We believe we are a national liberation movement and an authentic part of the Palestinian spirit.”

He warned against involvement in the project aimed at settling the Palestinian cause under the so-called regional or economic peace with an enemy that occupies land and displaces its people, stressing that the movement will never pass through projects that ignore the interests and rights of the Palestinian whatever the pretext.