Ismail Haniya, Hamas’ movement leader, called for forming a national unity government of all Palestinian factions, expressing his willingness to meet the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas, and for concluding the Palestinian reconciliation with the Fatah faction.
During his speech on Sunday to mark the 31st anniversary of the movement’s founding, Haniya expressed his appreciation for the support of Egypt, Qatar, Iran, and Kuwait for the Palestinian people.
He delivered his speech at a huge military rally, and before thousands of the faction’s followers. Members of Hamas’ armed wing, and Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades also attended.
Haniya declared that Hamas is ready “to go to the furthest point in order to regain the Palestinian unity”, adding that they are planning to enhance their relations with the Arab and Islamic countries, as well as the other countries.”
“I am prepared to meet the PA’s President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza, Cairo, or anywhere to agree on a joint Palestinian agenda,” Haniya said.
He added, “We proved a successful political partnership through the joint committee to steer the Great March of Return, and through the joint operation room of the Palestinian resistance factions.”
Furthermore, Haniya praised the recent protests in the West Bank, saying that “They confirm that the West Bank is the burial place of the deal of the century.”
“The current wave of resistance in the West Bank is a response to all attempts to break the Palestinians through the continual of the settlement projects, and the Judaisation of Jerusalem,” he declared.
Haniya was referring to the recent demonstrations which broke out in the West Bank last week, where the Israeli forces used live fire against the Palestinian protesters, killing an 18-year-old Palestinian named Mahmoud Rabah Nakhleh, and injuring others, according to the Palestinian ministry of health. Protests came after the Israeli forces carried out new raids overnight on Friday in Ramallah.
Hamas was founded in 1987 after the beginning of the first intifada “The Palestinian Uprising”, which broke out against the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. The movement seized power of Gaza in 2007, after winning the elections.
Earlier last week, The UN’s general assembly rejected a draft resolution proposed by the US, condemning the Palestinian Hamas movement for firing rockets at Israel.
