The following are excerpts from Hamas Friday sermons and military parades in abandoned Israeli settlements in Gaza. The footage aired on Al-Jazeera TV on September 16, 2005. TO VIEW THIS CLIP VISIT: http://memritv.org/clip/en/858.htm.
We Do Not Distinguish Between 1940s and 1960s Lines
Sheikh Nazzar Rayan: "The vanquishing of the enemy in Gaza does not mean that this stage has ended. We still have Jerusalem and the pure West Bank. We will not rest until we liberate all our land, all our Palestine. We do not distinguish between what was occupied in the 1940s and what was occupied in the 1960s. Our Jihad continues, and we still have a long way to go. We will continue until the very last usurper is driven out of our land."
[...]
Speaker: "If the Palestinian Authority is weakened by the pressures, and tries, or even makes a decision to, collect the weapons, we will reject this decision, and we have the actual capabilities to reject it. We will not turn in these weapons – we have, after Allah, these weapons to thank for being where we are today, having liberated this place in honor and dignity. On the contrary, we say that these weapons will grow in strength. We will improve our ability to manufacture and buy weapons in order to continue the liberation. We stand at the gates of Hirbiya, Barbara, and Ashkelon, which we aspire to liberate. The liberation can progress only with these weapons and their improvement. So we say that, on the contrary... Oh you who bear arms but refrain from using them for liberating [our land], we call upon you to join us in the liberation effort. On the contrary – it is you who should give your weapons to us, so that we can use them honorably."
[...]
The Joy of the Martyr's Mother
Speaker: "It will be written in history that the Palestinian people knew its way, and knew for certain that this enemy understands only one language – the language of blood, the language of sacrifice, the language of martyrdom. This enemy has never fought a real battle throughout its history. It met [Arab] armies that were submissive, weak, and defeatist. It faced [Arab] leaders who were collaborators, cowards, and traitors. But then, when it faced a different kind of group – when it faced people who compete with one another for martyrdom, people who encourage their sons to die... A mother readies her son, and then receives the news of his martyrdom with cries of joy. A father receives the news of his son's martyrdom with pride and honor. Our women push our children [towards martyrdom], in a way that has confused the occupation.
Gaza is Like Tel Aviv
Hamas spokesman Mushir Al-Masri: "We stand here on our liberated land, near the armistice borders. We remember when Sharon said that Netzarim is like Tel Aviv. Hamas has said, via the lion of Palestine [Rantisi], that Gaza is like Tel Aviv. The promise that has been fulfilled and will be fulfilled in the future, oh Sharon, is the promise of Allah, and the promise of Hamas. Behold, Palestine is being liberated, Allah willing."
"We Can Liberate All of Palestine – From the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River "
Al-Masri: "We have come here in multitudes to proclaim that Hirbiya and Ashkelon will be taken by the mujahideen. We have come here to say that the weapons of the resistance that you see here will remain, Allah willing, so that we can liberate Palestine – all of Palestine – from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Jordan] River, whether they like it or not."
[...]
Speaker: "What is your goal?"
Crowd: "Allah."
Speaker: "What is your goal?"
Crowd: "Allah."
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Speaker: "Who is your leader?"
Crowd: "The Prophet Muhammad."
Speaker: "Who is your leader?"
Crowd: "The Prophet Muhammad."
Speaker: "What is your constitution?"
Crowd: "The Koran."
Speaker: "What is your constitution?"
Crowd: "The Koran."
Speaker: "What is your path?"
Crowd: "Jihad."
Speaker: "What is your path?"
Crowd: "Jihad."
Speaker: "What is your greatest desire?"
Crowd: "Death for the sake of Allah."
Speaker: "What is your greatest desire?"
Crowd: "Death for the sake of Allah."
Speaker: "What is your greatest desire?"
Crowd: "Death for the sake of Allah."
Speaker: "What is your movement?"
Crowd: "Hamas."
Speaker: "What is your movement?"
Crowd: "Hamas."
Speaker: "Oh multitudes, which are your brigades?"
Crowd: "Al-Qassam."
Speaker: "Oh multitudes, what is your army?"
Crowd: "Al-Qassam."
Speaker: "What is your army?"
Crowd: "Al-Qassam."
Speaker: "With the blessings of Allah, our land will be liberated, and we will walk in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jaffa."
[...]
Speaker: "I hope you will not listen to those who tremble in fear, to those who have disappointed [you], whom we have not heard in five years, to those who did not fire a single bullet, to those whose business and profits were not affected, to those who sent their children to universities in Europe, far from the heat of battle."
