Hamas Promises More Violence on 35th Anniversary

by Hany Ghoraba

Unemployment in Gaza is above 40 percent. Its infrastructure is in shambles, with electricity and clean water often scarce.

Hamas, which has controlled Gaza for 15 years, could change these conditions if it prioritized its people’s wellbeing over an endless, unwinnable war to destroy Israel. On its 35th anniversary last month, Hamas made it clear that such a shift was not going to happen.

nstead, its leaders promised to spread the pain to the West Bank.

“Palestine, from its sea to its river, is the land of the Palestinian people. We will continue to cling to it completely, and to our legitimate right to defend and liberate it by all means, beginning with the armed resistance, as a strategic option until the occupation is deterred and demised from it,” a Hamas statement said.

“We call upon the Palestinian Authority [which controls the West Bank] to strengthen the elements of steadfastness of our Palestinian people, stop security coordination with the occupation [Israel], immediately stop fighting resistance, allow political and public freedoms, stop persecuting activists, students and opinion leaders, and release all political prisoners.”

“That resistance is a destiny and not a choice or a slogan, and it will continue, it will rise, it will grow, and it will teach the world the lessons of tolerance and giving,” said Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

“We are in front of a new phase of the confrontation with the occupation, which will witness mor...