According to reports from Mashregh citing the Palestinian Information Center, the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas issued a statement condemning the US’s move to provide consular services within the Efrat settlement located in the Gush Etzion area of the West Bank. This action is viewed as a blatant alignment with the settlers’ Judaization plans and is interpreted as a practical recognition of settlement activities and the Israeli regime’s dominance over the West Bank.
The statement further emphasizes that the new US decision starkly contradicts Washington’s claims of opposing West Bank annexation while simultaneously undertaking actions that reinforce annexation and solidify Israel’s sovereignty over occupied territories.Hamas asserted that the provision of official US services within settlements constitutes a clear violation of international law, which deems settlement expansion a crime. This move is also seen as an attempt to impose new political realities aimed at undermining and erasing Palestinian national rights.
The movement warned of the repercussions of this action, especially in light of statements from US officials encouraging settlers to expand their control. Hamas calls for the international community to adopt a decisive stance to halt this trend and 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 will never be forgotten, and such actions cannot alter the historical realities and the will of the Palestinian people.
Hamas urged for the activation of legal proceedings against the leaders of the occupying regime for their crimes against the Palestinian people, land, and sanctities. The anniversary of the February 25, 1994 massacre coincides with ongoing oppressive policies, as noted by Hamas, which highlighted the continuous attacks by the Israeli regime in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.The statement recalled the incident where Baruch Goldstein opened fire on worshippers in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, resulting in the deaths of 29 Palestinians and injuries to dozens more. This event exemplifies the violent nature of occupation and reflects a series of similar events against Palestinian civilians that have persisted over the years.
Hamas also criticized the Israeli regime’s actions in sacred Islamic and Christian sites in the West Bank, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, describing these actions as clear violations of international laws and customs, 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 onset of the occupation will never be forgotten and the Palestinian people’s resolve for resistance and steadfastness will not wane.
Hamas holds the occupying regime accountable for the consequences of actions related to the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City of Hebron urging international organizations particularly UNESCO to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities to stop these actions and address violations.
