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The Mischaracterization of Hamas: A Historical and Legal Perspective
Bassem Zakarneh, a member of the Revolutionary Council of the Fatah movement, emphasized on Friday that labeling Hamas as a 'terrorist' organization disregards historical context and violates international law. He argued that such attempts to categorize Hamas as 'terroristic' overlook the historical framework of resistance and contradict the principles of international law, which guarantees the rights of nations to resist occupation.
Zakarneh pointed out that the struggle for resistance did not begin with Hamas; rather, various national groups, including Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Democratic Front, have historically engaged in different forms of resistance against Israeli occupation. He stated, 'To label Hamas as terrorist essentially means to classify all these movements as terrorists, dismissing the legitimate right of the people to determine their own destiny.'
The senior Fatah official clarified that international law distinctly differentiates between the 'right to resist for occupied peoples' and actions that violate the laws of armed conflict, such as the intentional targeting of civilians. He drew parallels with historical global examples, including Vietnam's resistance against American occupation, asserting, 'Resistance against occupation—whether armed, popular, or legal—is not terrorism but a legitimate right of nations.'Zakarneh highlighted the military superiority of Israel and the extensive political support from Washington stressing the need to explore various resistance options. He noted that legal actions within the United Nations General Assembly and international courts could effectively expose the crimes of occupiers and hold them accountable.
In conclusion considering the brutal military responses from the Tel Aviv regime in areas like Gaza Jenin and the West Bank camps he suggested that certain forms of legal and popular resistance might currently be less costly and more effective. He reiterated that the right to resist in all its defensive and legal forms is an established right for the people and any attempt to criminalize it essentially targets the roots of national identity.
February 27, 2026
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