Al-Aqsa Storm continuation of Intifada, to result in liberation of Palestine: Hamas

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Operation al-Aqsa Storm is the continuation of a heroic Intifada (uprising) that was initiated more than three decades ago and will result in the full liberation of Palestine and the end of Israeli occupation.

Hamas released a statement on Friday on the 36^th anniversary of Stone Intifada, also known as First Intifada, which involved mass rallies and fierce clashes that broke out across the Palestinian territories in 1987 after four young Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint in Gaza as well as the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy during an unarmed protest.

The second Intifada began in 2000 and was known as the al-Aqsa Intifada. It was sparked by former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque complex.

“The anniversary of the Stone Intifada on December 8, 1987, comes amid a Nazi aggression launched by the Zionist occupation against our people in the Gaza Strip over more than two months, which has not succeeded in achieving anything,” Hamas said.

“The Stone Intifada was an important milestone in the history of our people’s ongoing struggle. Its spark emanated from the proud land of Gaza and its flame spread throughout all the squares of the nation."

The statement said Operation al-Aqsa Storm is a “great historical epic” waged by al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, and other Palestinian resistance groups, and underscores the legitimate right of Palestinian people to defend themselves, their land, and their sanctities.

“Al-Aqsa Storm is a natural continuation of the uprisings of our people to confront the aggression of the Nazi occupation, and to thwart all of its settlement and Judaization plans,” Hamas added.

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The statement called on Palestinian youth in the cities, villages and camps of the occupied West Bank to confront the Israeli regime’s forces and settlers "by all means," in line with the battle of the al-Aqsa Storm and in defense of their land and sanctity.

The statement also called on Arab and Muslim countries as well as freedom-seekers of the world to continue their solidarity with Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, and to stage rallies and demonstrations to condemn the Israeli aggression and support the Palestinian cause and the right of its people to freedom and self-determination by establishing a Palestinian State with al-Quds as its capital.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

More than 17,400 people, most of them women and children, have been killed and over 46,480 others injured in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on Gaza.

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