On December 12-14, 2014, Hamas celebrated its 27th anniversary with numerous marches and rallies throughout the Gaza Strip, attended by tens of thousands of people. The central rally in the north of the Strip was reportedly attended by nearly 100,000.[1] The anniversary celebrations also included a large military parade by Hamas' military wing, the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades.[2]

Senior Hamas officials who spoke at the marches and rallies stressed that the movement would never recognize the Zionist entity or be satisfied with a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, and called for continuing on the path of resistance and jihad until all of Palestine, from the river to the sea, is liberated. Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu 'Ubaida thanked Iran for providing Hamas with funds, weapons and missiles and thus helping it to build its army, with its many advanced units. He also declared that Hamas would soon bring about the release of Palestinian prisoners through prisoner-exchange deals.

At the same time, the speakers warned of an impending "explosion" if Gaza does not receive the recovery funds it was promised. They did not spare the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its leaders from their criticism, calling them "traitors" and urging the people of the West Bank to rise up against them.[3]

It should be noted that Hamas political bureau head Khaled Mash'al was conspicuous in his absence at the anniversary celebrations, whereas senior officials Mahmoud Al-Zahhar and Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu 'Ubaida were conspicuously involved and publicly participating. A recorded speech by Mash'al was to be broadcast at a mass rally in Hebron, but this rally was canceled following intervention by the PA and Israeli security apparatuses.[4] A special interview with Mash'al on the occasion of the anniversary was posted on the website of Hamas' mouthpiece Al-Risalah.[5]

The following are translated excerpts from speeches by Hamas officials and photos from various rallies and marches and from the military parade:


From video of Gaza military parade (source: Youtube.com/watch?v=ojmbZwamO4s, December 12, 2014)

Mahmoud Al-Zahhar: Palestine Stretches From Egypt To Lebanon, And From Jordan To The Sea, We Will Establish Our Rule Over The West Bank

Speaking at a December 12 rally in Khan Younes, Hamas political bureau member Mahmoud Al-Zahhar said: "Anyone who thinks that we will recognize the existence of the [Zionist] entity or the 1967 borders is deluded... Palestine stretches from the Egyptian border in the south to Lebanon in the north, and from Jordan in the east to the Mediterranean sea in the west, and we will never recognize anything less than this." He added: "If part of our land is liberated, we will establish our state in that part without relinquishing even an inch of the rest. Just as we liberated Gaza and established a genuine administration in it, [with] an army and security apparatuses that defend us, rather than the Israeli enemy [unlike those of the PA], we will do the same in the West Bank, as a prelude to attaining all of Palestine."

Al-Zahhar called to grant freedom of action to the people in the West Bank, "who invent means of resistance that the occupation never imagined, such as vehicular [attacks] and stabbings." He also harshly attacked the PA and its president, accusing them of treason against the Palestinian people, saying: "The West Bank is suffering from two conflicts: [a conflict] with the Israeli enemy, which is directing its weapons at its face, and [another conflict] with the PA, which is stabbing it in the back while purporting to govern Palestine... Al-Zahhar called on the people of the West Bank to "get rid of the traitors first, so that we can get rid of the occupation." He also urged Fatah "to become real partners in the liberation of Palestine, and [steer] clear of [intra-Palestinian] squabbling."[6]


Mahmoud Al-Zahhar speaking at the rally (Alresalah.ps. December 12, 2014)

Salah Bardawil: We Adhere To Jihad And Resistance Until Liberation

In his speech at a rally in the central Gaza Strip, Senior Hamas official Salah Bardawil said: "We renew our promise and our oath of loyalty to the blood of [our] martyrs the illustrious leaders, [promising] to continue the path of jihad and resistance until [the attainment of] victory and liberation." He noted that "Hamas, along with other Palestinian dignitaries from among the [Palestinian] people, preserved the national capabilities from destruction and succeeded in withstanding all those who schemed to eliminate the Palestinian people's just cause..."[7]

In an