Hamas, Thirty-Two Years Later

by Khaled Abu Toameh  

• Now that Hamas has again – clearly – reminded the world that it has not changed and continues to seek the destruction of Israel, the question is: Why are some world leaders, governments and organizations continuing to embrace the leaders of the movement?
• A further question that ought to be asked in light of the recent venomous anti-Israel statements by Hamas leaders in the past few days: Why is the United Nations trying to convince Hamas to participate in Palestinian presidential and parliamentary elections?
• All that is needed is for Erdogan and the rest of the world to listen to the statements of Hamas leaders in the past few days to understand that the movement is more determined than ever to achieve its goals of driving Jews "out of all of Palestine" and replacing Israel with an Islamic state.... What is it that they do not understand about "DEATH TO ISRAEL"? ... It makes one wonder what their real motive is.

There is only one message sent by the recent meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, during a week when Hamas repeated its call for the elimination of Israel: Turkey endorses Hamas and supports its agenda and ideology. Pictured: Erdogan at an anti-Israel rally, wearing a scarf with the flags of Turkey and the Palestinian Authority, on May 18, 2018 in Istanbul. (Photo by Getty Images)

The Palestinian Hamas movement this week celebrated its 32^nd anniversary by reminding everyone of its main goal: the destruction of Israel. This message is proof that Hamas has not – and will not – change its charter, originally published in 1988. It is also a powerful message to those who may have deluded themselves into believing that Hamas has transformed into a non-violent Palestinian faction.

This charter, also known as the Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement, states that Hamas's "struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious" and calls for replacing Israel with an Islamic state. "There is no solution for the Palestinian issue except through Jihad (holy war)," the charter says. "Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. Renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion [of Islam]."

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