Following Hamas's announcement that Yahya Sinwar will become the new head of its political bureau after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, MEMRI is republishing its December 2023 report compiling translations of Sinwar’s statements since his appointment as Hamas's leader in Gaza in 2017.
Introduction
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's Political Bureau Chief in Gaza since 2017, led the planning and preparations for Hamas's deadly October 7 attack on southern Israel, and is currently among Israel's most wanted.[1] Born in the city of Khan Younis in what is now the Gaza strip, Sinwar was charged in 1989 with planning the abduction and murder of two Israeli soldiers and with torturing and murdering four Palestinians who were, in his view, collaborators with Israel.[2] He subsequently spent 22 years in Israeli prison, before being released in 2011 as part of a prisoner swap deal to free kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.[3]
Sinwar holds up a toddler with a submachine gun at May 2021 celebration of Hamas operatives killed in recent fighting.
The following are MEMRI's translations of his statements on Arabic-language television channels since his appointment as Hamas's leader in Gaza in 2017, replacing Hamas's Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who now resides in Doha, Qatar.
TO VIEW THE COMPILATION VIDEO OF SINWAR’S STATEMENTS, CLICK BELOW. The video can also be viewed and shared on YouTube, X, and Facebook.
Table Of Contents
Hamas Gaza Leader Yahya Sinwar: We Will Desecrate Synagogues Throughout The World If Al-Aqsa Is Desecrated; Israel Wants A Religious War – We Accept The Challenge; This Will Scorch The Earth, Change The Planet; Palestinians Should Carry Out Lone Wolf Attacks; Israeli-Arabs Should Prepare Their Guns, Cleavers, Axes, Knives – April 30, 2022
Hamas Leader In Gaza Yahya Sinwar: We Received Money From Iran In The Last Few Days; We Are In The Process Of Moving Our Headquarters Out Of Residential Areas – June 5, 2021
Hamas Leader In Gaza Yahya Al-Sinwar Salutes Al-Jazeera TV, Iran, And Yasser Arafat, Adds: We Have 10,000 'Martyrdom-Seekers' Within Israel; Our Missile Capability Remains Intact, Can Hit Tel Aviv With A 250-Rocket Salvo; We Have 500 KM Of Tunnels In The Gaza Strip – May 26, 2021
Al-Jazeera Airs Hamas Celebration In Honor Of Its Members Killed In Recent Conflict: We Will Trample On The Heads Of The Jews, Pave The Path Of Liberation With Your Body Parts – May 24, 2021
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar: We Have Hundreds of Kilometers of Underground Tunnels, Thousands of Traps, Thousands of Anti-Tank Missiles; We Will Crush Tel Aviv – November 4, 2019
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar: If Not for Iran's Support, We Would Not Have Our Missile Capabilities – May 30, 2019
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Flaunts Gun Allegedly Taken from Israeli Soldiers, Saying: Gaza Will Only Give Israel Fire, Martyrdom, Death, And Killing – November 16, 2018
Hamas Leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar: We Are Coordinating with Hizbullah, Iran on an Almost Daily Basis – May 21, 2018
Hamas Leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar: Our People Took Off Their Military Uniforms And Joined The Marches; We Decided To Turn The Bodies Of Our Women And Children Into A Dam Blocking Arab Collapse – May 16, 2018
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar: Qassem Soleimani Contacted Us, Pledged to Place IRGC Capabilities At Our Disposal – December 25, 2017
Hamas Gaza Leader Yahya Sinwar: We Will Desecrate Synagogues Throughout The World If Al-Aqsa Is Desecrated; Israel Wants A Religious War – We Accept The Challenge; This Will Scorch The Earth, Change The Planet; Palestinians Should Carry Out Lone Wolf Attacks; Israeli-Arabs Should Prepare Their Guns, Cleavers, Axes, Knives – April 30, 2022
On April 30, 2022, Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, gave his first speech in almost a year. Standing before a picture of Israeli security forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Sinwar said that this image of the "desecration" of Al-Aqsa must never be allowed to repeat itself, and that "thousands" of synagogues and Jewish temples throughout the world will be desecrated if it does.
He then claimed that Israel wants to turn the Palestinian-Israeli conflict into a regional religious war, declaring that Hamas accepts "the challenge" and will spare no efforts when it comes to defending its holy places. Warning that a religious war will "change the shape of Planet Earth" and scorch the earth, he said that when Hamas is forced to "defend" the Al-Aqsa Mosque, it will begin by firing a salvo of 1,111 rockets into Israel, in honor of former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11, 2004. He said that this salvo will be called the "Abu Ammar" salvo, in commemoration of Arafat.
Later in the speech, Sinwar praised the terrorists who carried out a previous-night attack in the West Bank settlement of Ariel that left an Israeli security guard dead, and he called on Palestinians to carry out lone wolf attacks and on Israeli Arabs to prepare their guns, cleavers, axes, and knives for the defense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem. He said that if the Palestinians exert themselves, all West Bank settlements could be evacuated by the end of the year, just like the settlements of the Gaza Strip had been evacuated. In addition, he said that Hamas has been coordinating with other parts of the "Jerusalem axis" in order to "shatter" the naval blockade on Gaza and open its naval routes. He said: "We will [sail in and] out of Gaza, [and] we will do this whether they like it or not." Sinwar's speech was aired on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar).
Yahya Sinwar: "This is a picture of the Zionist occupation soldiers entering the Al-Qibly Prayer Hall.
[...]
"This picture must never repeat itself. Whoever makes the decision to repeat this desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque will be making a decision to desecrate thousands of synagogues and Jewish temples all over the world. This picture means one thing: that the enemy wants to turn this war into a religious war.
"We prefer that the war does not turn into a religious war, but if the leaders of the occupation and their extremists want to turn it into a religious war, we accept the challenge.
[...]
"Harming the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem means a regional religious war. When it comes to our religion and our holy places, we will spare nothing and will not hesitate to make the decision.
[...]
"If this entity continues its policies — take it from me: it will change the shape of planet Earth, because a regional religious war will leave the Earth scorched. The world has a chance to act in order to prevent this great war, and avoid starting processes that only Allah knows how they will end. But we, as Palestinians and as Arabs and Muslims, who are part of the Jerusalem axis and coalition, we say clearly that we are completely ready to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
[...]
"A few days ago it was revealed that we have prepared a first salvo of 1,111 rockets for when we have to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Why 1,111? Because this number is made of two '11' figures. It commemorates the martyrdom of the eternal leader Abu Ammar [Yasser Arafat]. This salvo will also be named the 'Martyr Abu Ammar' salvo.
[...]
"Our people under occupation inside [Israel] in the Negev, the Triangle region, the Galilee, Haifa, Jaffa, Acre, and Lod — whoever has a gun should prepare it, and whoever does not have a gun should prepare his cleaver, axe, or knife. If they want there to be a religious war, they will be shattering all the red lines, and we should be on standby.
"From satellites, the entire region should be seen engulfed in raging fire, if they want a religious holy war, and if they do not stop their provocations of our feelings towards our Al-Aqsa Mosque.
[...]
"I would like to address the people of the United Arab List, and [their leader] Knesset Member Mansour Abbas. By providing a security net to this [Israeli] government, which decided to desecrate the Al-Aqsa Mosque, you committed a crime we cannot forgive.
[...]
"On behalf of myself, you, our people in the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian people, I salute the heroes who carried out the operation this morning, in Ariel, near Salfit. Our dear people, if you exert your efforts, all the settlements of the West Bank can be evacuated by the end of this year, just like the settlements of the Gaza Strip were evacuated.
[...]
"[I say to] our people in the West Bank: Do not wait for a decision from anyone. The lone [wolf] operations have proven to be extremely successful. Lone operations! Two or three people at he most, without letting anyone know, and do not write anything about it on the social media platforms, because the enemy is good at monitoring the social platforms.
"Today, we are capable of a great achievement in the West Bank. In Gaza, we say loud and clear, and I don't want to talk too much — soon we will begin coordinating with the Jerusalem axis, in order to start the naval navigation route to the Gaza Strip. We will completely shatter the siege, Allah willing. The discussions and consultations about this are well underway.
"We will [sail] our of Gaza, and return to it, and we will import and export goods, and whoever is not happy about this — we will do this whether they like it or not."
Hamas Leader In Gaza Yahya Sinwar: We Received Money From Iran In The Last Few Days; We Are In The Process Of Moving Our Headquarters Out Of Residential Areas – June 5, 2021
Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar thanked Iran and Hizbullah for their financial aid to the factions in Gaza following the recent armed conflict with Israel. He made his remarks in a public address that aired live on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) on June 5, 2021. Sinwar said that the people of the factions are already repairing the damage from the recent war with money received in the past few days from Iran. He added that some Arabs and Muslims also sent significant financial aid to the Gaza factions, but they are afraid to reveal this, unlike Iran and Hizbullah who '"don't care.'" Sinwar said that these Arabs and Muslims will be thanked by name when Hamas stands in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Mosque as liberators. He added that having military and security headquarters within residential areas, such as high-rise buildings, was a '"major problem'" in previous bouts of fighting, and that the Gaza factions are in the process of gradually transferring them elsewhere.
Yahya Sinwar: '"The brothers in Iran and in Hizbullah spared us nothing. Our brothers in the factions of the resistance and in the Al-Qassam Brigades are repairing and rebuilding all that was depleted or was destroyed in the war with money that the Iranian brothers gave us over the last few days.
"Over the last few days, the brothers in the resistance factions and the Al-Qassam Brigades received money [from Iran] and they began reconstruction. The brothers in Iran and in Hizbullah as well as other parties... There are other parties, whom we cannot name today, because they are afraid.
"The Iranians and Hizbullah do not care, because they act in contradiction of the so-called 'international will.' It even makes them happy when we announce that they support the resistance. Now there are Arab and other Muslim brothers who support the resistance generously with large resources. Today we cannot name them, because they are afraid of international surveillance, harassment, and accountability. But we are convinced that very soon, Allah willing, when we will be standing in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque as liberators, after breaking the tyrannical, criminal, and unfair restrictions placed on us by the world — we will publicly announce that so-and-so, and such and such contributed to our victory, because we must give credit to people, and Allah willing, we will give them credit.
[...]
'"With regard to our military or security headquarters that are located in residential areas — this was a major problem in the previous bouts [of fighting], and at the resistance factions, we worked to gradually transfer these headquarters from populated areas. We have succeeded in removing many of them, but some still need to be transferred, and Allah willing, this operation will continue. We have taken this issue into consideration, and we have taken care of transferring many of the headquarters, especially those at the high-rise and residential buildings. We have done significant work and Allah willing, we will complete it."
Hamas Leader In Gaza Yahya Al-Sinwar Salutes Al-Jazeera TV, Iran, And Yasser Arafat, Adds: We Have 10,000 'Martyrdom-Seekers' Within Israel; Our Missile Capability Remains Intact, Can Hit Tel Aviv With A 250-Rocket Salvo; We Have 500 KM Of Tunnels In The Gaza Strip – May 26, 2021
Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar thanked Al-Jazeera and Iran for the role they played during the recent round of fighting with Israel. He delivered a "victory speech" that was aired live on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) on May 26, 2021. In his speech, Sinwar said that Al-Jazeera "has been the best pulpit to give the accurate voice to our position." He added that Iran gave Hamas money, weapons, and expertise. Sinwar saluted the "tough men" of Haifa, Jaffa, Lod, Ramla, Acre, the "Triangle" area, the Galilee, and the Negev, who proved that all the attempts to "Israelize them" and any attempts at coexistence have collapsed once and for all. He said that the rockets launched at Israel during the fighting were only a rehearsal or a drill to demonstrate what Hamas will do if they try to harm the Al-Aqsa Mosque again. He warned Israel that it harms Jerusalem or the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Palestinians will attack all Israeli settlements at once.
Sinwar said that even the "heroes" among the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces will attack Israelis at all the junctions and bypass roads. He added that Palestinians living within the 1948 borders of Israel will participate, and a million demonstrators or more will take to the streets and block the roads. He said that he is certain that there will be "at least" 10,000 "martyrdom-seekers" among them, who will carry out stabbing attacks, car-ramming attacks, throw Molotov cocktails, and set forests on fire. Sinwar added that "resistance forces in the region" would be able to crush Israel. Sinwar said that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wants to take advantage of the rift between the PA and Hamas by transferring all money for aid and reconstruction through the PA, but Hamas will not allow this, adding: "Don't kindle our internal conflict."
He said that while Hamas supports the "eradication of Israel through armed jihad and struggle," it is willing to reach a relatively long truce with Israel, if it meets certain conditions. Namely, if Israel withdraws from the West Bank, dismantles its settlements, releases Hamas prisoners, removes the siege on Gaza, allows Palestinian refugees to return, permits Palestinian elections in Jerusalem, gives up East Jerusalem, and facilitates the formation of a Palestinian state on part of the land. He said that Hamas is willing to agree to this for the sake of Palestinian unity and in view of "international positions."
Hamas members were in contact with "their brothers in Lebanon," with Hizbullah, the IRGC, and elsewhere, he added, and that had the fighting intensified, these groups would have gotten involved. He quoted Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubeida, saying: "Firing a salvo of 250 rockets on Tel Aviv is easier for us than [drinking water]." Sinwar also recognized the role played by Russia, and said that it should play an even more active and positive role.
Yahya Al-Sinwar: "From the bottom of the heart of everyone in Gaza, we salute the tough men of Haifa, the tough men of Jaffa, the tough men of Lod, the tough men of Ramla, the tough men of Acre, and our men and women in the 'Triangle' area, in the Galilee, and in the Negev, who proved that all the years that have gone by and all the Israelization campaigns – the attempts to turn them into Israeli citizens, rather than Arab-Palestinian citizens – and the so-called coexistence campaigns collapsed once and for all.
[...]
"Allow me to extend a special salutation to Al-Jazeera. From the command center where I was leading our activity, I had the chance to watch Al-Jazeera TV specifically. Maybe this is what left in me a special [impression]. Al-Jazeera has been the best pulpit to give accurate voice to our position and [to display] the occupation's crimes. I am not trying to detract from the other media outlets. The picture was clear and the discrepancy glaring between the pan-Arab and patriotic media that gave voice to the concerns and causes of our nation, and between the lowly media – and I won't name names – that was trying to peddle the enemy's narrative and has become a part of the war against the morale of our people. All hail to you, heroic fedayeen [of Al-Jazeera].
[...]
"All hail to the spirit of the eternal leader, Abu Ammar [Yasser Arafat]. On this occasion, and following this latest round of fighting, I say to him: Rest in peace, oh Abu Ammar! You died trying to strengthen our nation's combat capabilities following the [2002] Karine A affair. Karine A was the famous ship, you all know about it... It was carrying some weapons – Grad rockets, some anti-tank missiles, and some short-range rockets, like 20km and 30km Grad rockets. Arafat was trying to strengthen our people's ability to be steadfast in their confrontation. He turned to bringing in weapons, in order to create some change in the balance of power between the occupation and us. Rest in peace, Abu Ammar, along with all the martyrs, now that the resistance forces of your people, your sons at the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades and the other resistance factions, have obtained hundreds of rockets, and not just 20-kilometer-Grad rockets, but hundreds of rockets that in one salvo can crush the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
[...]
"Rest in peace, our martyrs in this last round of fighting. Rest in peace, Abu Emad Bassem Issa, commander of the Gaza Brigade. Rest in peace, distinguished Professor Jamal Zabeda. You could have remained a distinguished professor working for NASA, and the world would have celebrated you, but you insisted on coming to Gaza, and to take part in the development of the rockets that rock the [Zionist] entity.
[...]
"This was just a rehearsal, nothing but a tiny drill of what could happen if they try to harm the Al-Aqsa Mosque once again.
[...]
"I'd like to use this opportunity to warn the Zionist occupation and its leaders: The Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem is where we draw the line. If you want to survive for a while, say away from the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem. The decision to erase your state is linked to the implementation of your plots at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem. The script is there and the rehearsal has been completed. Gaza will burst with the full force of its resistance, and the West Bank will explode with all its power. Our people will attack all the settlements at once. Our heroes – even from the security forces in the West Bank – will be waiting for you at all the junctions and all the bypass roads.
"They will attack you in all the settlements, all over the West Bank. Our people in the land occupied [in 1948] will rise. A million demonstrators or more will take to the streets and block the roads. I am certain, that in those [1948] occupied lands, there will be at least 10,000 martyrdom-seekers, if the Al-Aqsa Mosque is harmed. Each one of them will pick up a knife to stab [an Israeli], take his car to run over one of them, or throw a Molotov cocktail that will burn your hearts. Or they can take a gallon of fuel to burn down those vast forests. The multitudes of our people and nation will set out, cross the borders, and swarm like a flood to uproot your entity. The resistance forces in the region will also set forth. All the vital forces will crush you with all the power at their disposal, Allah willing. I am certain that the Middle East will look different from what it looks now.
[...]
"They started saying that they destroyed 100 kilometers of Hamas tunnels. I am telling you that the tunnels we have in the Gaza Strip exceed 500 kilometers. Even if their narrative is true, they only destroyed 20% of the tunnels.
[...]
"We, the resistance commanders, pledge that Allah willing, before the end of this year, there will be great improvement in the living and human conditions in the Gaza Strip. Before the end of this year, the problems of the Gaza Strip, which were caused by the siege, the war, and the destruction, will be changed from the way they are. Let the whole world hear this. We will cause total destruction if the problems of Gaza are not resolved. Blinken now wants to take advantage of our internal disagreements, and [he wants] the money for reconstruction to come through the PA, not Hamas, in order to shut down Hamas and strengthen the PA... I'm saying to Blinken and others: Don't play with our internal disagreements. We know how to resolve our problems with one another. Don't think that you can kindle the internal conflict. We will make it easy for anyone who wants to build in Gaza, improve the economic conditions, and revive the economy of Gaza.
[...]
"We will not restrict anyone, and will not ask anyone to give a single penny to Hamas or the Qassam Brigades. Hamas and the Qassam Brigades have their own sources of income, and they do not need to take a cut from the aid and reconstruction money. At this point, there is something that needs to be said. Our complete gratitude is extended to the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has spared us and the other Palestinian resistance factions nothing in recent years. They have provided us with money, weapons, and expertise. They have supported us in everything, with the grace of Allah. They deserve huge credit. They weren't with us on the ground, but they were with us through those capabilities, with which we crushed and rocked the enemy.
[...]
"If the occupation abides by [international law], there can be a long-term tahdiya [calm period] – for four or five years, or even more. If there is a possibility for the world to exert pressure on the occupation to withdraw from the West Bank, to dismantle the settlements there, and to withdraw from, let's say, East Jerusalem, to release the prisoners, to stop the siege of Gaza, to allow us to hold our elections in Jerusalem, and to establish our Palestinian state on part of our land – this could definitely lead to a relatively long truce, which will postpone the conflict and create some stability in the region.
[...]
"We support the eradication of Israel through armed Jihad and struggle. This is our doctrine. The occupation must be swept [away] from all our land. But for the sake of a united Palestinian position and common denominators, and in view of the international position, we said that we were ready to go for this option. We don't have a problem with this. If the world's superpowers and international organizations are willing to force the occupation to abide by international laws and resolutions, and we establish our state on our land in the West Bank and Jerusalem, along with the Gaza Strip, and the settlements are dismantled, the prisoners are released, the siege ends, and the refugees return... There is a possibility that this will lead to a relatively long truce or tahdiya. There is no doubt about this.
[...]
"Throughout the war, our brothers in the battlefield and in some special units were in contact with our brothers in Lebanon. There was a high level of coordination. We clarified to our brothers in Lebanon, in Hizbullah, in the IRGC, and elsewhere that we were merely sending a message to the enemy and that this was not a real war. We were certain that had the battle intensified, the resistance would have intervened in an active way on all fronts.
[...]
"Our rocket capabilities are completely fine. This was nothing but a message that we sent. Let me reiterate what [Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman] Abu Ubeida said: Firing a salvo of 250 rockets on Tel Aviv is easier for us than [drinking water].
[...]
"We undoubtedly value the role played by Russia. Russia is an influential and significant international player. It has played a significant role in recent years. It definitely played a role in recent days. We believe that Russia should play an even more active and positive role. Russia can play a very significant role in the Palestinian scene, and with regard to the conflict in the region. We are certain that our coordination with them will be on a high level, in the coming days, Allah willing."
Al-Jazeera Airs Hamas Celebration In Honor Of Its Members Killed In Recent Conflict: We Will Trample On The Heads Of The Jews, Pave The Path Of Liberation With Your Body Parts – May 24, 2021
Hamas held a celebration in honor of its members killed in recent fighting. The group's leader, Yahya Sinwar, appeared on stage embracing, then lifting, a young boy dressed in military gear. The boy was given a submachine gun to brandish. The celebration was broadcast live on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) on May 24, 2021. The son of Jamal Al-Zabeda, who was the head of research and special projects in the munitions productions department of Hamas and was recently assassinated by Israel, said: "We will pave the path of liberation with your body parts, and turn your skulls into stairs that will lead us to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and all the plundered villages and cities."
Son of Jamal Al-Zabeda: "Our final message is to the plundering, spiteful, and criminal enemy, that plunders the land and the holy places, who violates the honor of our women and all that we hold sacred. We promise to you that we will not rest until we drive out the very last plunderer of this blessed land. We will pave the path of liberation with your body parts, and we will turn your skulls into a ladder that will take us to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and all the plundered villages and cities.
[...]
"This is a message to our folk at the Damascus Gate, in Jerusalem. How sweet is death at the Damascus Gate..."
Crowd: "How sweet is death at the Damascus Gate."
Son of Jamal Al-Zabeda: "How sweet is death at the Damascus Gate."
Crowd: "How sweet is death at the Damascus Gate."
Son of Jamal Al-Zabeda: "We will trample on the heads of the Jews in front of everyone..."
Crowd: "We will trample on the heads of the Jews in front of everyone..."
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar: We Have Hundreds of Kilometers of Underground Tunnels, Thousands of Traps, Thousands of Anti-Tank Missiles; We Will Crush Tel Aviv –November 4, 2019
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar said in a November 4, 2019 speech that aired on Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas-Gaza) that Hamas has hundreds of kilometers of underground tunnels, hundreds of underground and above-ground command centers, thousands of traps, and thousands of locally-made anti-tank missiles, which he claimed can destroy Israel's tanks. He said that Hamas has thousands of missiles that will turn Israel's cities into ruins and ghost cities if Israel makes any "stupid" mistake. Addressing Israeli politician and former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who is currently trying to form a coalition in the Israeli government, Sinwar threatened: "We will make you curse the day your mother gave birth to you." Sinwar also threatened: "We will crush Tel Aviv and cause its sirens to wail morning, evening, and night for six whole months." In addition, Sinwar recalled a time when the Al-Qassam Brigades ran out of metal pipes for making missiles and a simple farmer led its members to former Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, where he allegedly showed them metal pipes that were part of an irrigation system that had been left behind when Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip. Sinwar claimed that these pipes were enough to produce missiles for ten years.
Yahya Sinwar: "We now have hundreds of kilometers of underground tunnels.
[...]
"We have many hundreds of control and command rooms, both underground and above ground. We have hundreds and thousands of traps, and if the enemy so much as thinks to enter the Gaza Strip, our sons will go out... You and your brothers will emerge from the belly of the earth... The earth will spew forth our men and our youth, who will go out to [the enemy's] tanks from the belly of the earth with anti-tank missiles that were manufactured in the Gaza Strip.
[...]
"[These missiles] will turn the strongest tanks in the world – the Merkava IV – into ash-covered metal, Allah willing.
[...]
"Dear brothers and sisters, in 2014 we had dozens – perhaps only a few hundreds – of high-quality anti-tank missiles. Today, by the grace of Allah and the efforts of the youth of Gaza, we possess thousands of these missiles.
[...]
"Today, by the grace of Allah, we have many thousands of missiles that will turn the occupation's cities into ruins and ghost cities – Allah willing – if the enemy makes any stupid mistake against Gaza or against one of our great national causes.
[...]
"We have seen that some of the occupation leaders are making threats and warnings, and some of them have joined the ranks of those who are boastful, like [Israeli Ministers] Lieberman and Bennett... Now we see that [Benny] Gantz has also become [boastful], threatening and warning...
[...]
"We say to him: We are waiting for you, if you are able to form a government, so that we can see what you can do.
[...]
"With Allah's help, we will make you curse the day your mother gave birth to you.
[...]
"You will see, and the world will see, that we have patiently suffered through the hunger, the injuries, and the siege so that we can build the power with which we can rub your nose, and the nose of your country and its military, in the mud.
[...]
"We will crush Tel Aviv and cause its sirens to wail morning, evening, and night for six whole months.
[...]
"One day, some leaders of the Al-Qassam [Brigades] came. They were [responsible] for [missile] production. They said: 'There are no pipes with which we can produce missiles. We are out of pipes. There is a ban on bringing iron in from outside, and we cannot bring them through the tunnels – these are long pipes. We will cease production within a month.'
"I said that Allah will help us find a way. Then, a simple farmer approached one of the men from the Brigades. He said: 'I heard that you're having a problem with pipes for missile production.' The young man told him this was true. The [farmer] said: 'I will give you the solution for this.' [The young man said:] 'What is it?' He answered: 'Come with me.' They went together to the liberated [Israeli] settlements [in Gush Katif]. The [farmer] said: 'Stop here and let's get out [of the car]. From here, walk five kilometers, and you will find 10-inch pipes. When the occupiers left the Gaza Strip, they left the irrigation lines. Come here. From here, if you walk straight for 10 kilometers, you will find eight-inch pipes. Come this way. Walk six kilometers, and there are [various] kinds of piping. It is easy to dig here.'
"The brothers started digging and removed from the ground the pipes that the occupier left behind when it left the Gaza Strip. These would be enough for the Al-Qassam Brigades to manufacture missiles for the next ten years."
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar: If Not for Iran's Support, We Would Not Have Our Missile Capabilities – May 30, 2019
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar said in a May 30, 2019 speech that aired on Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas-Gaza) that the conflict with Israel will only end with the removal of the occupation from Palestine and with the Palestinians' return to the "liberated and cleansed" Al-Aqsa Mosque. He said that the Palestinians "suckled this spirit" from their mothers, who "breastfed [it] to their children along with the milk." In addition, Sinwar said that Grad and Fajr missiles that have been launched at Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Beersheba have been either provided by Iran or developed locally with the financial and technical support of Iran. He threatened that Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities would be "crushed" if a future conflict with Israel erupts, and he added: "If not for Iran's support for the resistance... we would not have obtained these capabilities. Our [Arab] nation has deserted us in our difficult moments, while Iran has supported us with weapons, equipment, and expertise." The speech was delivered on the occasion of the Iranian-declared "Jerusalem Day."
Yahya Sinwar: "I hereby declare that this conflict will only end with the removal of the occupation from all our occupied lands, and not before we return to Jerusalem and pray in the squares of the liberated and cleansed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Allah willing. We have suckled this spirit from our mothers. Our mothers breastfeed this spirit to their children along with the milk. This conflict will only end with the removal of the occupation from all our sacred soil.
[...]
"[In 2008,] we in the resistance factions only had several [BM-21] Grad missiles – provided to us by the Islamic Republic of Iran – in addition to some locally-made missiles and some mortar shells. The world was surprised when the resistance shelled Beersheba with Grad missiles that have a range of 40 kilometers. Four years later, in 2012, our resistance struck Tel Aviv for the first time, using Fajr missiles – which were provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran – and with locally-made missiles.
[...]
"In 2014, we hit Tel Aviv with 170 missiles, including Fajr missiles provided by Iran. Most of the missiles were locally-made, but also with the financial and technical support of Iran.
[...]
"If Allah so decrees, and a war erupts with this occupier, Tel Aviv will be crushed with a lot more [missiles] than in 2014, and so will other cities.
[...]
"Let me reiterate – if not for Iran's support for the resistance in Palestine, we would not have obtained these capabilities. Indeed, our [Arab] nation has deserted us. Our nation has deserted us in our difficult moments, while Iran has supported us with weapons, equipment, and expertise."
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Flaunts Gun Allegedly Taken from Israeli Soldiers, Saying: Gaza Will Only Give Israel Fire, Martyrdom, Death, And Killing – November 16, 2018
During a speech in eastern Khan Yunis, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar welcomed on stage the commander of the Eastern Brigade of the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, who handed him a handgun allegedly taken from an elite IDF unit during a recent botched undercover operation in Gaza. Sinwar mockingly encouraged the Arab countries to welcome Netanyahu and other Israeli ministers to their capital cities, saying: "From us here in Gaza, [Israel] will never get anything but guns, fire, martyrdom, death, and killing." Sinwar also praised the Palestinian youth in the West Bank who had attacked Israelis with knives or cars, and he added: "If only there was a leadership behind them that would protect them, sponsor them, support them, and help them with money an weapons - like we do in Gaza - the state of our cause would not be like it is." The speech aired on Al-Aqsa TV on November 16, 2018.
Announcer: "We welcome on the stage of this ceremony a brave lion and a true mujahid from the Al-Qassam Brigades. The courageous mujahid, the commander of the Eastern brigade, who will hand over the weapon that the mujahideen captured from the elite Zionist unit. Allah Akbar! Praise be to Allah!"
Crowd: "Allah Akbar! Praise be to Allah!"
Announcer: "We salute the Brigades of..."
Crowd: "'Izz Al-Din!"
[...]
Yahya Sinwar: "To those who normalize [relations with Israel], I say: Today, the capital cities of Arab countries open their gates wide open for Netanyahu, his ministers, and the occupying and plundering Zionists, who are defiling our Jerusalem. Oh you who normalize [relations with Israel], open your capitals to [the Israelis], welcome them in your palaces, smile into their faces, honor them, and treat them nicely. But from us here in Gaza, they will never get anything but guns, fire, martyrdom, death, and killing.
[...]
"In two years, the West Bank produced about 300 martyrdom-seekers. These young boys and girls used knives in their attacks, or cars to ram and run over. If only there was a leadership behind them that would protect them, sponsor them, support them, and help them with money and weapons – like we do in Gaza – the state of our cause would not be like it is today."
Hamas Leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar: We Are Coordinating with Hizbullah, Iran on an Almost Daily Basis – May 21, 2018
Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar said, in an interview with the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen TV channel, that with the help of Iran, Hamas has managed to significantly develop its capabilities. Sinwar added that Iran has provided Hamas's Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades and other Gaza factions "a lot of money, equipment, and expertise." He further said that his organization had "excellent" relations with Hizbullah and that there is coordination on an "almost daily" basis between the two organizations, and described Hamas's relations with Iran, the IRGC, and Qasem Solimani as "strong and warm." The interview aired on May 21.
Host: "If Israel launches a military attack against Gaza, will we be witnessing unprecedented surprises, the likes of which we have not seen in the Israeli aggressions of 2014, 2012, and 2009, and 2008 against Gaza?"
Yahya Sinwar: "Absolutely. This is certain and beyond any doubt. Our resistance in the Gaza Strip has greatly developed its capabilities first and foremost thanks to Allah, but also with the help of the righteous free men of our nation – first and foremost the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has provided the Al-Qassam Brigades and the other factions of the resistance a lot of money, equipment, and expertise, even before the [Israeli] aggression, but especially after it. It has provided us a lot of resources, which allowed for great development of our capabilities.
[...]
"We have excellent relations with our brothers in Hizbullah. Our relations with them are extremely developed. We work together and coordinate and are in touch on an almost daily basis. The relations are at the best stage ever. Similarly, our ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, with brother Qasem Soleimani and the other brothers in the IRGC leadership are very strong, powerful, and warm. Our relations with the Islamic Republic are excellent."
Hamas Leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar: Our People Took Off Their Military Uniforms And Joined The Marches; We Decided To Turn The Bodies Of Our Women And Children Into A Dam Blocking Arab Collapse – May 16, 2018
Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar emphasized in a May 16 interview with Al-Jazeera TV that although Hamas has chosen the "wonderful and civilized" method of non-armed clashes, it will not hesitate to resort to armed struggle again, when circumstance requires it. Sinwar said that Hamas members could have "rained thousands of missiles" on Israeli cities, but instead, chose to take off their military uniforms and join marches. He added that against the images of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, the Palestinians have painted an image of heroism and determination with their sacrifices – "the sacrifice of their children as an offering for Jerusalem and the Right of Return." "When we decided to embark on these marches," he said, "we decided to turn that which is most dear to us – the bodies of our women and children – into a dam blocking the collapse in Arab reality."
Yahya Sinwar: "It is too early to say that such a great act of struggle has fulfilled its goals in full, but an important part of these goals has undoubtedly been fulfilled. The first goal that has been fulfilled at this point is that these marches have restored the Right of Return to the Palestinian, Arab, and international consciousness as one of the important rights and principles of the Palestinian people.
[...]
"Another goal fulfilled by these marches is that they have placed the Palestinian national cause on the world's agenda once again, when some defeatists were claiming that the world's schedule was too busy and had no room for the Palestinian national cause. They tried to use this to promote further concessions.
[...]
"I must emphasize a great strategic goal accomplished on May 14. Our people in Gaza recorded, for the whole world to see, their testimony over the transfer of the United States embassy to Jerusalem and the declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of the occupation entity.
"On behalf of the Arab Palestinian people and all the Arab and Islamic peoples, our people in Gaza have rejected that decision and that move, by this great activity and by recording its testimony for the sake of history, and by signing this testimony with the blood of the martyrs – our people sacrificed sixty martyrs on May 14, as well as three thousand wounded. They were used to sign our people's rejection of the reckless decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem."
[...]
Interviewer: "Is this a new strategy of the resistance – shifting from armed military resistance to popular protests, of the kind that has always been advocated by the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas?"
Yahya Sinwar: "It is true that the form of resistance to the occupation changes from time to time in keeping with subjective and objective circumstances.
[...]
"This method [of struggle] is appropriate for this stage, but circumstances might change, and we might have to return to the armed struggle. When this happens, our people, the factions, and Hamas will not hesitate to use any means required by the circumstances."
Interviewer: "What circumstances could push you once again toward the option of armed struggle?"
Yahya Sinwar: "Before answering this question, I'd like to state a certain fact. The strategic circumstances surrounding the Palestinian cause are extremely difficult and complex, on the international, regional, and local levels.
[...]
"We, the Palestinian people, the factions of the resistance, and the Hamas movement, emphasize that we will continue on this path, the path of peaceful popular resistance, to confront the oppression machine of the Israeli occupation, and we will make our utmost efforts to prevent these marches from slipping into armed military activity, but for everything definitely has a limit, and if the enemy goes too far in its acts against our people, against our men, women, and children, and if the enemy sheds a lot of [our] blood, it will definitely be required from us to respond in kind."
[...]
Interviewer: "But the enemy has already gone too far and killed 60 Palestinian on Monday.
[...]
"Do you mean to say that in light of the circumstances both of us mentioned that you are incapable right now of turning to armed resistance due to the international and regional pressure, and that all this pressure is pushing you at present toward peaceful resistance only?"
[...]
Yahya Sinwar: "The enemy says that we use people as human shields and push them towards the fence, but we say that these youths and men could have opted for another option. They could have rained thousands of missiles down on the cities of the occupation when the U.S. opened its embassy in Jerusalem. But they did not choose that path. Many of them took off their military uniforms and put their weapons aside. They have temporarily abandoned the means of armed struggle and turned to this wonderful civilized method, which is respected by the world, and which is appropriate for the current circumstances.
[...]
"Our people have imposed their agenda upon the whole world. There was supposed to be a romantic picture of the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on the world's television screens, but our people, in their collective consciousness, forced the whole world to split the television screens between the footage of fraud, deception, falsehood, and oppression, manifest in the attempt to impose Jerusalem as the capital of the occupation state, and between the image of injustice, oppression, heroism, and determination painted by our own people in their sacrifices – the sacrifice of their children as an offering for Jerusalem and the Right of Return.
[...]
"When we decided to embark on these marches, we decided to turn that which is most dear to us – the bodies of our women and children – into a dam blocking the collapse in Arab reality, a dam to prevent the racing of many Arabs towards the normalization of ties with the plundering entity, which occupies our Jerusalem, plunders our land, defiles our holy places, and oppresses our people day and night."
Interviewer: "You are referring to the Deal of the Century..."
Yahya Sinwar: "The Deal of the Century and any deal of compromise, aimed at eliminating our national Palestinian cause."
Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar: Qassem Soleimani Contacted Us, Pledged to Place IRGC Capabilities at Our Disposal – December 25, 2017
In a recent speech in Gaza, Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar said that Qassem Soleimani, Commander of the IRGC's Qods Force, had contacted the commanders of the Al-Qassam Brigades and the Al-Quds Brigades and had said: "We place all our capabilities at your disposal in the battle for the defense of Jerusalem." According to Sinwar, Soleimani set no conditions to this pledge. Sinwar's speech was broadcast by Mayadeen TV on December 25.
Yahya Sinwar: "Qassem Soleimani contacted the commanders of the Al-Qassam [Brigades] and with the commanders of the Al-Quds Brigades, as was published in the news. The reports were correct. But then, the Zionist media and some pro-Zionist media outlets tried to put these contacts in the wrong context. The man contacted [us] and stressed that Iran, the IRGC, and the Al-Qods Force stand, with all their capabilities, alongside our people, in defense of Jerusalem, and in order to keep Jerusalem the capital of the State of Palestine.
[...]
"He said clearly: We place all our capabilities at your disposal in the battle for the defense of Jerusalem. He did not ask, set conditions, or encourage us to employ any specific type of resistance. Let me tell you something. I sat with the man when I visited Tehran in 2012. I saw a man who loves Palestine, loves Jerusalem, and loves anything that could bolster the steadfastness of our people."
[1] Timesofisrael.com/hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-said-to-narrowly-evade-capture-by-idf-two-separate-times, December 19, 2023.
[2] Foxnews.com/world/israels-most-wanted-butcher-khan-younis-other-hamas-terrorists-now-idfs-sights, December 17, 2023.
[3] Timesofisrael.com/hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-said-to-narrowly-evade-capture-by-idf-two-separate-times, December 19, 2023; 2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/246686.htm, accessed December 19, 2023.
