->Nableezy at 17:32, 27 November 2021

2021-11-27T17:32:45Z

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The '''25th anniversary of the founding of [[Hamas]]''' took place on Saturday, December 8, 2012. A rally involving hundreds of thousands of [[Palestinians]] was held in [[Gaza Strip]] and various celebrations were conducted all over the [[Palestinian Authority]].<ref name="haaretz.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/hundreds-of-thousands-mark-hamas-25th-anniversary-in-gaza-rally-1.483441|title=Hundreds of Thousands Mark Hamas' 25th Anniversary in Gaza Rally|first1=Avi|last1=Issacharoff|last2=Reuters|first3=The Associated|last3=Press|date=8 December 2012|access-date=18 November 2017|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref>
Thousands of jubilant Hamas supporters openly raised green flags in the [[West Bank]], to celebrate the Islamic organisation's 25th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/13/hamas-rallies-fatah-west-bank|title=Hamas rallies in Fatah-dominated West Bank suggest growing Palestinian unity|first=Harriet|last=Sherwood|date=13 December 2012|access-date=18 November 2017|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

The guest of honor at the ceremony was Hamas leader in-exile [[Khaled Mashal]], who arrived in [[Gaza Strip]] for the first time in his life, after entering the Gaza strip through [[Egypt]]. In [[#Khaled Mashal's speech|his speech]], which Mashal gave at a mass rally attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters, he stated explicitly that the [[Palestinian people]] would never compromise with [[Israel]]'s existence and that the organization will act decisively to gradually conquer and achieve full control over [[Palestine (region)|the whole region]], which encompass both [[Israel]] and the [[Palestinian territories|Palestinian]] territories in order to establish one [[Islamic republic|Islamic state]] in that region.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20631933|title=Ghana poll extended after hitches|work=BBC News|date=7 December 2012|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/hamas-leader-khaled-meshal-denounces-israel-at-anniversary-rally-in-gaza/2012/12/08/b311c70c-4179-11e2-a2d9-822f58ac9fd5_story.html|title=Hamas leader Khaled Meshal denounces Israel at anniversary rally in Gaza|first=Joel|last=Greenberg|date=8 December 2012|access-date=18 November 2017|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref>

== Background ==
{{Main|Hamas|Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Palestinian political violence}}
Hamas formed in late 1987, during the [[first Intifada]], as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]]. Co-founder [[Sheik Ahmed Yassin]] stated in 1987, and the [[Hamas Charter]] affirmed in 1988, that Hamas was founded to liberate the [[Palestine (region)|historic region of Palestine]] from Israeli occupation and to establish an [[Islamic republic|Islamic state]] in the area that is now [[Israel]], the [[West Bank]], and the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref>Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement), www.ict.org.il</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/27/international/middleeast/27mideast.html?ex=1298696400&en=25164615c0b5f11c&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss | work=The New York Times | first=Greg | last=Myre | title=Israeli Official Says Hamas Has Made Abbas Irrelevant | date=27 February 2006}}</ref>

Various Hamas elements have used both political and [[Palestinian political violence|violent means, including terrorism]], to pursue the goal of establishing an [[Islamic]] [[Palestinian state]] in place of the state of [[Israel]].

Since June 2007 Hamas has governed the Gaza portion of the [[Palestinian Authority]], after it won a majority of seats in the [[Palestinian Parliament]] in the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election|January 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Who are Hamas? |publisher=BBC News |date=January 26, 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1654510.stm |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124204240/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1654510.stm |archive-date=January 24, 2016 }}</ref> and then defeated the [[Fatah]] political organization in a [[Fatah–Hamas conflict#Conflict|series of violent clashes]].

Although Arab nations, Iran, Russia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/06/how-to-confront-russias-anti-american-foreign-policy/|title=How to Confront Russia's Anti-American Foreign Policy|first=Ariel|last=Cohen|website=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> and Turkey<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10236884|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126175319/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10236884|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2011|title=BBC News - Gaza flotilla: Turkey threat to Israel ties over raid|date=26 January 2011|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> have recognized the Hamas, [[Israel]], the United States,<ref name=SD1>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/65462.pdf "Country reports on terrorism 2005"], [[United States Department of State]]. Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism. US Dept. of State Publication 11324. April 2006. p 196</ref> Canada,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-eng.aspx |title=Currently listed entities |publisher=Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness |date=November 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209042421/http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-eng.aspx |archive-date=February 9, 2009 }}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3100518.stm |title=EU blacklists Hamas political wing |publisher=BBC News |date=September 11, 2003 }}</ref> Japan, and many other [[western countries]]<ref name="Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook 2005">{{cite web| url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/2005/ch3-a.pdf| title=Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook 2005|year=2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3100518.stm |title=EU blacklists Hamas political wing |publisher=BBC News |date=11 September 2003 |access-date=21 June 2010}}</ref> classify Hamas as a [[List of designated terrorist organizations|terrorist organization]].<ref name="intp">[http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2010/07/if-hamas-is-a-terrorist-organization-what-does-that-make-israel/ If HAMAS is a Terrorist Organization, What Does That Make Israel?] Intifada: The Voice of Palestine. July 11, 2010</ref>

== Gaza rally ==
Palestinian men, women and children flocked to Al-Katiba square despite the rains in the morning and gathered before a huge stage, wearing headbands and waving green flags in support of Hamas which has been controlling Gaza since 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20121209145430 |title=Saudi Gazette - Hamas marks its 25th anniversary |access-date=2012-12-15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130418025741/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20121209145430 |archive-date=2013-04-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At least 200,000 people attended Saturday's open-air rally, though Hamas said there were 500,000, including 2,500 members of Islamic delegations from [[Indonesia]], [[Mauritania]], [[Egypt]], [[Algeria]], [[Tunisia]], [[Turkey]], [[Libya]] and [[Jordan]] — the biggest turnout for an event since their founding, according to [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/121208/hamas-rally-25-year-anniversary|title=Hamas rallies in celebration of 25 year anniversary; vows not to recognize Israel (PHOTOS)|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>

Hamas officials said that at least 3,000 figures from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey and Algeria had arrived in the Gaza Strip especially for the event.<ref name="jpost.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=295124|title=Mashaal vows Hamas will not concede land|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>

At the main stage in Gaza City, a roaring crowd greeted Khaled Mashaal and Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who emerged from a door built into a large model of a rocket fired at Israeli cities during the recent fighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/12/08/hamas-25th-anniversary-gaza.html|title=Hamas marks 25th anniversary with anti-Israel speech|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>

=== Ismail Haniyeh's speech ===
Hamas Prime Minister [[Ismail Haniyeh]], delivered a speech at the rally in which he stated that Hamas was working toward establishing an Arab and Islamic strategy to liberate “all our occupied Palestinian territories.” He added that the group's “victory” in the eight-day conflict with Israel (In November 2012) marked the beginning of the collapse of Israel.<ref name="jpost.com"/>

Hamas has painted itself as the winners of the battle [[Operation Pillar of Defense|'Pillar of Cloud']], because Israel agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Egypt instead of launching a ground invasion.<ref name="haaretz.com"/>
Hamas' green dominated the gathering, where some children wore military uniforms and others carried guns.

=== Khaled Mashal's speech ===
[[File:Khaled Meshaal 01.jpg|thumb|right|Hamas leader [[Khaled Mashal]] arrived in the Gaza Strip for the first time ever for the 25th anniversary of Hamas.]]

Five hours after the start of the event, [[Khaled Mashal]] stood on a platform, behind a bank of white flowers. He gave a fiery speech to his supporters, stating among other that:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/08/hamas-gaza-palestine-khaled-meshaal-israel%20Tens%20of%20thousands%20celebrate|title=Tens of thousands celebrate|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>

”[[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] is ours from the [[Jordan River|river]] to the [[Mediterranean Sea|sea]] and from the south to the north. There will be no concession on an inch of the land. We will never recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation and therefore there is no legitimacy for Israel, no matter how long it will take.″

Behind Mashaal was an emblem of an M75 missile and a large portrait of Hamas founder [[Ahmed Yassin]]. As he spoke, the crowd chanted slogans calling on Hamas’s armed wing, Izzadin Kassam, to fire rockets next time at Haifa.<ref name="jpost.com"/>

== Reactions ==

=== Palestinian Authority's reaction ===
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced Sunday, 9 December 2012, that he planned to head to Cairo soon to resume reconciliation talks with Hamas but did not condemn the statements by Hamas.

“Reconciliation [with Hamas] is dear to us and the unity of our people,” Abbas told the Arab League in Doha, Qatar.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal agreed. He told an audience at Gaza’s Islamic University that “responsibility for Palestine is bigger than one faction alone... Hamas cannot do without Fatah and Fatah cannot do without Hamas.”

The two Palestinian groups have been rivals since Hamas threw Fatah out of Gaza in a bloody coup in 2007. Hamas is also opposed to Fatah’s recognition of Israel along the pre-1967 lines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?ID=295271&R=R1|title=Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks |access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>

=== Israel's reaction ===
Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] stated Sunday, 9 December 2012 that “Khaled Mashaal has revealed Hamas’ real face, while Palestinian Authority Chairman [[Mahmoud Abbas]] hides behind him by not condemning remarks to destroy Israel.” <ref name="israelnationalnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/162979#.UMzNP-SPimk|title=Bibi: Why Doesn't Abbas Condemn Hamas' Threat to Destroy Us?|website=Israel National News|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>

Prime Minister Netanyahu told the Cabinet meeting Sunday morning, “Yesterday we were re-exposed to our enemies' true face. They have no intention of compromising with us; they want to destroy the state. They will fail, of course; in the annals of the history of our people, we – the Jewish People – have overcome such enemies.”

Netanyahu noted that Abbas, who has fostered an image of a “peace partner” while recently declaring unity with Hamas, “has issued no condemnation, not of the remarks about the destruction of Israel, just as previously he did not condemn the missiles that were fired at Israel.”

“To my regret, he strives for unity with the same Hamas that is supported by Iran," the Prime Minister added.

“We in the government have no illusions. We want a true peace with our neighbors. But we will not close our eyes and stick our heads in the sand. We are not prepared to repeat the same mistake of a [[Gush Katif|unilateral withdrawal]] and withdrawals that, in effect, led Hamas to take control of Gaza.”

“I have always been astonished at the delusions of others who are prepared to continue this process and call it peace. You would hand over more territory, in this case in Judea and Samaria that controls Israel's cities, to the same people and the result, of course, will be a Gaza on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, Hadera and Kfar Saba.”

Netanyahu vowed to withstand international pressure that objected to the [[Israeli settlement|new settlement projects]] for Jews in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

President Shimon Peres shared Netanyahu’s views of Hamas but still maintained that Abbas is a “peace partner”.<ref name="israelnationalnews.com"/>

=== The European Union's reaction ===
The European Union on Monday, 10 December 2012, denounced as "unacceptable" the statements by Hamas leaders in Gaza "that deny Israel’s right to exist," <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=295364|title=EU condemns|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>
while also condemning Israel for its plans to link [[Jerusalem]] with [[Ma'ale Adumim]].

Days earlier, the United Nations passed a resolution, recognizing Palestine as a non-member observer state.

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Hamas]]
[[Category:Anniversaries]]
[[Category:2012 in the Palestinian territories]]
[[Category:December 2012 events in Asia]]

25th anniversary of Hamas - Revision history

->Nableezy at 17:32, 27 November 2021