Today marks the 14th anniversary of the 2008 zionist occupation regime’s offensive against the besieged Gaza Strip, during which more than 80 israeli warplanes launched violent airstrikes against more than 100 government and security facilities. 

The indiscriminate onslaught that left more than 360 Palestinians martyred, most of them were Palestinian security forces pulled from under the rubble, was a milestone in the history of the Palestinian people who have defended their rights, constants, land, and holy places.

Remembering this anniversary, Hamas salutes the Palestinian martyrs who fell during that offensive on the path to liberation and wishes the wounded a speedy recovery.

On this anniversary, Hamas states the following:

First: We reaffirm our commitment to our right to resist the settler-colonial Israeli occupation and its colonial settlers until liberation and return.

Second: We renew our rejection of the israeli occupation’s Judaisation schemes against occupied Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. We also reiterate that these plans are vain attempts to give the occupation sovereignty over the Muslims’ first Qibla.

Third: The israeli occupation’s successive governments have failed to break the Palestinian resistance and dissuade the Palestinians from resisting the occupation. The Palestinian people will stand up for their rights until liberation and return.

Fourth: We salute the Palestinian detainees held in israeli jails, the Palestinian freedom fighters, and the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, across Palestine, and in the diaspora, who stand steadfast against the Israeli occupation’s crimes and continue to uphold the Palestinian constants and identity. We call on them to continue their heroic freedom struggle against the Israeli occupation.

Fifth: We hail the Arab and Islamic Ummah, along with the free peoples of the world, who expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people during the 2008 Israeli offensive. Hamas urges them to further support the just Palestinian cause until liberation and return.

Sixth: We call on the international community to fulfil its responsibility towards the Palestinian people and pressure the israeli occupation to stop its attacks, crimes, and violations. They should hold the israeli occupation accountable for its crimes and violations and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the face of the Israeli occupation until liberation and return.” (ILKHA)