According to reports from the Palestine Information Center, Hamas issued a statement denouncing the U.S. provision of consular services within the Efrat settlement, part of the Gush Etzion bloc established on occupied West Bank land. This move is seen as a perilous endorsement of the Israeli settlers’ agenda, effectively legitimizing the ongoing settlement expansion and Israeli dominance over the West Bank.
The statement emphasizes that this new American policy starkly contradicts Washington’s declared opposition to the annexation of the West Bank while simultaneously facilitating actions that reinforce Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied territories.Hamas asserted that the U.S. official services within settlements blatantly violate international law, which categorizes settlement activity as a crime. This initiative is viewed as an attempt to impose new political realities aimed at undermining and erasing Palestinian national rights.
The movement warned of the consequences of this action, particularly in light of statements from U.S. officials encouraging settlers to expand their control. It calls for the international community to take a decisive stance against this trend and to prevent further aggression against the Palestinian people and their land.In a separate statement marking the 32nd anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, Hamas declared that the crimes of the occupiers would never be forgotten and cannot alter the historical realities or the will of the Palestinian people. The movement urged the activation of legal proceedings against the leaders of the occupying regime for their crimes against the Palestinian nation, land, and sanctities.Hamas highlighted the ongoing assaults by the Israeli regime in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, noting that the anniversary of the February 25, 1994 massacre coincides with the continuation of oppressive policies. On that tragic day, an individual named Baruch Goldstein opened fire in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, resulting in the deaths of 29 Palestinians and injuring many others.The statement reflects the violent nature of the occupation and points to a series of similar events against Palestinian civilians, both before and after that incident. Hamas also referenced current developments in Gaza as part of the same ongoing struggle.Criticizing the actions of the Israeli regime against Islamic and Christian holy sites in the West Bank, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, Hamas asserted that these actions represent a clear violation of international laws and norms, occurring within the framework of annexation and settlement policies.The movement emphasized that the crimes of the Israeli regime, including genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza since the beginning of the occupation, will never be forgotten, and the Palestinian people’s resolve for resistance and perseverance will not be weakened.Hamas held the occupying regime responsible for the consequences of its actions concerning the Ibrahimi Mosque and the old city of Hebron urging international organizations especially UNESCO to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities to halt these actions and address violations.
