Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri The Coordinator 2016 Part 4-1 Levant 10

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Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri The Coordinator 2016 Part 4-1 Levant 10

Hamas Marks Its 29th Anniversary, Reiterating Its Adherence To Armed Struggle To Liberate Palestine From River To Sea

On December 14, 2016, Hamas marked the 29th anniversary of its founding with rallies, under the banner of "Al-Quds: A Vow and a Promise."

Hamas now has a “real army” with which to fight Israel and has increased its manufacture of missiles to prepare for conflict, a senior official has claimed. “The ‘Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam units have become a real army... this army has its own industry. We are now ready to sell our missiles to Arab countries. These are advanced missiles.

Hamas leaders reject fatwa forbidding suicide attacks; As soon as the first Palestinian intifada came to an end in 1993, Hamas embarked on a campaign of suicide bombings against Israeli targets in the cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Nahariya and Netanya, killing dozens of Israelis. The operations followed fatwas issued by Sharia scholars, most notably Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Qaradawi, head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, said that such operations are the greatest type of jihad and should not be considered suicide operations but heroic martyrdom. However, the same Qatar-based Qaradawi, now one of the most prominent scholars in the Islamic world, said Nov. 24 that such operations are no longer appropriate in Palestine. He said they were previously allowed out of necessity as Palestinians had no weapons. But Palestinians now have other ways to fight.

In an article marking the anniversary, Hamas information official in Lebanon Rafat Murra wrote: "Resistance is a strategic option for achieving the independence of the Palestinian people, expelling the occupation and its terrorism, attaining self-determination, and establishing an independent and fully sovereign state. Resistance plays a key part in defending land and man, protecting citizens, and targeting the occupation and its military, economic, and security infrastructure... The civilian intifada, the rock intifada, the stabbing and car ramming operations, and the cultural and economic boycotts of the occupation are part of a large strategic effort that is one of the achievements of the Palestinian people and the younger generation.

Hamas grew out of the ideology and practice of the Islamic fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood movement that arose in Egypt in the 1920s and it was legally registered in Israel in 1978 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the movement's spiritual leader, as an Islamic Association by the name Al-Mujamma Al Islami. Initially, the organization followed the Muslim Brotherhood's model of acting primarily as a social welfare agency that catered especially to the Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip and, over time, developed a good reputation for improving the lives of Palestinians. Hamas also exerted its influence through the mosques. Today, Hamas is intimitately tied to the Islamic regimes in Syria and Iran.

In August 1988, Hamas published the Islamic Covenant, which makes clear the organization is opposed to Israel's existence in any form. It states that "there is no solution for the Palestinian question except through jihad (holy war)." The group warns that any Muslim who leaves "the circle of struggle with Zionism" is guilty of "high treason." Hamas' platform calls for the creation of an Islamic republic in Palestine that would replace Israel. Muslims should "raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine," it says.

Hamas stresses jihad as the sole and immediate means to solve the problem of Palestine. Hamas aims to create an Islamic state in all of Palestine. The immediate means to achieve this goal is the escalation

1The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see. –Winston ChurchillCees de Waart: CdW Intelligence to Rent of 18

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of the armed struggle, and ultimately jihad, with the participation not only of Palestinian Muslims but of the entire Islamic world.

December 19, 2016 Special Dispatch No.6715 Hamas Marks Its 29th Anniversary, Reiterating Its Adherence To Armed Struggle To Liberate Palestine From River To Sea

On December 14, 2016, Hamas marked the 29th anniversary of its founding with rallies, under the banner of "Al-Quds: A Vow and a Promise." Hamas officials who spoke at the rally stressed adherence to jihad, the ongoing armed struggle to liberate all of Palestine from the river to the sea, the ongoing activity to obtain the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, and the eventual disappearance of "the Zionist entity." The movement held a military parade in Gaza featuring its weapons and a model of a tunnel. At the parade Hamas activists vowed to "continue working day and night above and below the ground until the occupation is expelled." [1]The website of Hamas's mouthpiece Al-Risala and Hamas's Al-Aqsa TV marked the occasion by posting an animated film presenting the development of Hamas's violent operations over the years.The website of the Hamas's military wing, the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Martyrs Brigades, posted a special report on the movement's weapons manufacturing efforts throughout the years. For the special report, see MEMRI Special Dispatch No.6714, Hamas's Military Wing Marks Organization's 29th Anniversary With Special Report On Its Military Industry, December 19, 2016.The following are translated excerpts from statements by Hamas officials on the occasion of Hamas's anniversary. Hamas Official Al-Zahhar: Our Land Stretches From The River To The SeaAt a rally in Khan Yunis attended by tens of thousands of residents, Hamas official Mahmoud Al-Zahhar said: "Our movement adheres to the option of resistance... Resistance using any weapons and all options is a legitimate right that we will utilize, never relinquish, and never surrender to anyone. We will continue to aim our guns at collaborators and traitors, and especially at the Zionist enemy. Our land is all of Palestine from the river to the sea." Al-Zahhar called on the PA, Fatah and the PLO to end security coordination with Israel and "adopt the option of resistance as a plan for liberation."[2]

Hamas parade in northern Gaza (Alqassam.ps, December 9, 2016)Hamas Official Khalil Al-Hayya: Time Is Not On The Side Of The Occupation; The Zionist Entity Will DisappearAt another parade, in northern Gaza on December 9, Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya said: "The issue of the prisoners is a top priority for the Palestinian resistance and the Al-Qassam Brigades, and the occupation should pay the price for it. Time is not on its side... Hamas will not back down from the option of resistance, and promises the prisoners in the occupation prisons that it will continue on its path until they are released... We will not recognize the Zionist entity, and are certain that this entity will vanish and will have no future on our land."[3]Hamas Officials: Following The Path Of Jihad; Ready To Export Rockets To Arab CountriesOther Hamas officials made similar statements in the days leading up to the anniversary. Thus, in a Friday sermon on December 10, 2016 marking the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, Hamas Legislative Council Deputy Speaker Ahmad Bahr said: "Gaza is following the path of resistance and jihad – the path of our honorable Prophet."[4]


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Hamas official Fathi Hamad said, in an unusual December 10 statement to Hamas's Al-Aqsa TV: "We are ready to export rockets to Arab countries so they fight Israel. The sole purpose of establishing Hamas was to liberate all Palestinian lands and claiming all rights in full."[5]In an article marking the anniversary, Hamas information official in Lebanon Rafat Murra wrote: "Resistance is a strategic option for achieving the independence of the Palestinian people, expelling the occupation and its terrorism, attaining self-determination, and establishing an independent and fully sovereign state. Resistance plays a key part in defending land and man, protecting citizens, and targeting the occupation and its military, economic, and security infrastructure... The civilian intifada, the rock intifada, the stabbing and car ramming operations, and the cultural and economic boycotts of the occupation are part of a large strategic effort that is one of the achievements of the Palestinian people and the younger generation."[6]Hamas official 'Issam 'Adwan wrote: "Hamas is a Palestinian movement whose purpose is resistance to the Jewish enemy that occupied Palestine, using all methods of resistance, chiefly armed struggle, until Palestinian land is fully liberated... [As for] armed resistance to the enemy – it is solely limited to Palestine... Hamas has successfully developed its military capabilities over 29 years. It started from nothing and currently has strategic tunnels to combat the enemy, self-produced medium-range rockets with a range of 160 kilometers, and thousands of fearless fighters."[7]West Bank-based columnist Lama Khater wrote on the pro-Hamas website Palinfo.com: "Hamas, which began with no backing in the region, has upgraded its means of struggle from rock to knife to rifle to explosive vest to rocket and to tunnel. The military wing of Hamas went from individuals to a well-structured military, and is the first line of defense in any war or round of conflict with the occupation."[8]Hamas Mouthpiece Posts Video Depicting Development Of Movement's OperationsThe website of Hamas's mouthpiece Al-Risala and Hamas's Al-Aqsa TV marked the occasion by posting an animated film in which a lone Hamas fighter, representing the movement's operatives throughout the years, carries out a series of attacks against the Israeli enemy using increasingly sophisticated means, from stones and firebombs to rocket launchers and tunnels, until he eventually approaches Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa mosque.[9]

Hamas Marks Anniversary With Military ParadeAt a December 14 Hamas rally in Gaza, which included a military parade, the Al-Qassam Brigades displayed the model of a tunnel, as well as weapons used by the Brigades in confrontations with Israel, including artillery, Kornet anti-tank missiles and M-75 rockets that were fired at Tel Aviv in the last round of fighting with Israel in 2014. One fighter said: "The Al-Qassam Brigades will continue working day and night, above and below the ground, until the occupation is expelled."[10]

Images from the military parade in Gaza (Maannews.net, December 11, 2016)Hamas Twitter Account Marks Anniversary By Listing Five Hamas "Firsts"Hamas's Twitter account marked the occasion with a post listing five types of operation that Hamas was the first movement in Palestine to carry out:[11]"Hamas was the first to carry out a martyrdom operation. [It was carried out] in 1993 using a car bomb that was detonated by 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam fighter Saher Tammam."


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"Hamas was the first to fire self-manufactured rockets at the Zionist entity. [They were fired] in 2001 at the area of the occupied [town of] Sderot."


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"Hamas was the first to fire locally-manufactured rockets at Tel Aviv, in 2012 in response to the killing of Ahmad Al-Ja'bari."


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"Hamas was the first to carry out a fidai [self-sacrifice] operation using the tunnels, in 2001 when it bombed [Israel's] Termite outpost in Rafah."


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"Hamas was the first to carry out a naval commando attack inside occupied Palestine, the Zikim operation."


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Endnotes:

[1] Maannews.net, December 11, 2016; Alqassam.ps, December 14, 2016.[2] Palinfo.com, December 11, 2016.[3] Alqassam.ps, December 9, 2016.[4] Alqassam.ps, December 10, 2016.[5] Maannews.net, December 10, 2016.[6] Palinfo.com, December 13, 2016.[7] Filastin (Gaza), December 13, 2016.[8] Palinfo.com, December 14, 2016.[9] Alresalah.ps, December 14, 2016; Al-Aqsa TV, December 15, 2016.[10] Maannews.net, December 11, 2016; Alqassam.ps, December 14, 2016.


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[11] Twitter.com/hamasinfo, December 14, 2016.

Hamas's Military Wing Marks Organization's 29th Anniversary With Special Report On Its Military Industry

On December 14, 2016, Hamas marked the 29th anniversary of its founding. The website of the Hamas's military wing, the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Martyrs Brigades, marked the occasion by posting a special report on the movement's weapons manufacturing efforts throughout the years, from rifles to anti-tank grenades to explosive vests for suicide operations.The following are the weapons highlighted in the report, along with photos of them and the dates they were unveiled: [1]

"The 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam factories: If you hew the rock, you will find the impossible"

"9mm Goldstar handgun. First announced: 1992"


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"Hamas Uzi. 250 submachineguns manufactured. First announced: 1993"

"Explosive vest worn by martyrdom-seekers. First announced: 1993"


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"Grenades: Offensive and defensive grenades, stun grenades, and smoke grenades. First announced: 1994"

"ENERGA-model anti-tank rifle grenade. Effective against light armor. First announced: 2000"


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"61mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortars. First announced: 2000"

"Al-Qassam rocket, named for the martyr Sheikh 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam. First announced: October 27, 2001. Models: Qassam 1 – range: 2-3 kilometers; Qassam 2 – range: 9-12 kilometers; Qassam 3 – range: 16 kilometers; and additional models"


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"Al-Banna anti-tank rocket launcher, named for the martyr Sheikh Hassan Al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood. First announced: 2002"

"Al-Battar anti-tank rocket launcher, named for the sword of the Prophet Muhammad. First announced: January 24, 2003"


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"Al-Yassin anti-tank rocket launcher. Named for the martyr Ahmad Yassin, the founder of Hamas. First announced: August 3, 2004"

"Anti-tank EFP [Explosively Formed Penetrator]. Models: Shawaz 1-4 shape charges, barrel charges"


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"Anti-personnel [Claymore] mines. Models: 'Television' 1-3, shape charge, bounding mine"

"M-75 rocket. Named for the martyr leader Ibrahim Al-Makadmeh. Range: 75 kilometers. First announced: November 14, 2012"


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"J-80 rocket. Named for the martyr Ahmad Al-Jabari. Range: 80 kilometers. First announced: July 8, 2014"

"R-160 rocket. Named for the martyr 'Abd Al-'Aziz Al-Rantisi. Range: 160 kilometers. First announced: July 9, 2014"


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"[Sijeel] rocket whose name taken from the holy Koran. Range: 55 kilometers. First announced: July 10, 2014"

"Ababeel drone. Models: AIA – intelligence; AIB – attack; AIC – suicide attack. First announced: July 14, 2014"

"Al-Ghoul 14.5mm sniper rifle. Named for the Al-Qassam Brigades martyr 'Adnan Al-Ghoul. Range: 2 kilometers. First announced: August 4, 2014"


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"SH rocket. Named for the Al-Qassam Brigades martyr Muhammad Abu Shamala. Range: Undisclosed. First announced: July 7, 2015"

"A rocket. Named for Al-Qassam Brigades martyr Raed Al-Atar. Range: Undisclosed. First announced: July 7, 2015"

"And we have more..."

[1] Felesteen.ps, December 9, 2016.


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Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri The Coordinator 2016 Part 4-1 Levant 10

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