Hamas leader: "Expel them from the 1948 borders"
Al-Aqsa TV, speech by Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar
Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar: “Allah says in the Quran: ‘And expel them from wherever they have expelled you’ (Quran, Sura 2:191, Sahih International translation). According to the grammarians , the word ‘from’ notes partialness. Where did the Jews expel us from? From the 1967 borders or from the 1948 borders (i.e., Israel)? From the 1948 borders. Expel them from the 1948 borders, like they expelled you. In other words, the Jews leaving the lands occupied in 1948 (i.e., Israel) is a principle that is unchangeable because it is mentioned in Allah’s book. ‘And expel them from wherever they have expelled you.’ Therefore, from an examination of this verse, we say that the disagreement between us and the Palestinian factions that speak about the 1967 borders is a disagreement over principles of faith. You do not rely on religion while we do rely on it on this issue.
It is said in the Quran: ‘[Your enemies will] enter the mosque , as they entered it the first time’ (Quran, Sura 17:7, Sahih International translation). The entry to the mosque means the entry to the capital, and the entry to the capital means the liberation of Palestine, all of Palestine, and that means an implementation on the ground of the words of the verse: ‘And expel them from wherever they have expelled you.’
I recommend the brothers and sisters of the Islamic movement, from Hamas and from Islamic Jihad, not mention the term 1967 borders at all, because when they mention the 1967 borders and afterwards add reservations ‘on condition that we will not concede [any part of Palestine],’ that creates an impression that there is a joint plan [between Fatah and Hamas]. I can liberate [part of Palestine] – after all we have liberated part of Palestine: Gaza – but I do not say that I am ready to be satisfied with Gaza, and afterwards [I will decide if I want the rest]. We want Palestine, all of Palestine, and not one grain of soil less.
It is said in the Quran: ‘And kill them wherever you overtake them’ (Quran, Sura 2:191, Sahih International translation). We do not recognize the difference between the 1967 borders and the 1948 borders. We will resist them where we can. Aboveground, underground, and if we will have planes to fly we will fight them from the skies.”
Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar: “Allah says in the Quran: ‘And expel them from wherever they have expelled you’ (Quran, Sura 2:191, Sahih International translation). According to the grammarians , the word ‘from’ notes partialness. Where did the Jews expel us from? From the 1967 borders or from the 1948 borders (i.e., Israel)? From the 1948 borders. Expel them from the 1948 borders, like they expelled you. In other words, the Jews leaving the lands occupied in 1948 (i.e., Israel) is a principle that is unchangeable because it is mentioned in Allah’s book. ‘And expel them from wherever they have expelled you.’ Therefore, from an examination of this verse, we say that the disagreement between us and the Palestinian factions that speak about the 1967 borders is a disagreement over principles of faith. You do not rely on religion while we do rely on it on this issue.
It is said in the Quran: ‘[Your enemies will] enter the mosque , as they entered it the first time’ (Quran, Sura 17:7, Sahih International translation). The entry to the mosque means the entry to the capital, and the entry to the capital means the liberation of Palestine, all of Palestine, and that means an implementation on the ground of the words of the verse: ‘And expel them from wherever they have expelled you.’
I recommend the brothers and sisters of the Islamic movement, from Hamas and from Islamic Jihad, not mention the term 1967 borders at all, because when they mention the 1967 borders and afterwards add reservations ‘on condition that we will not concede [any part of Palestine],’ that creates an impression that there is a joint plan [between Fatah and Hamas]. I can liberate [part of Palestine] – after all we have liberated part of Palestine: Gaza – but I do not say that I am ready to be satisfied with Gaza, and afterwards [I will decide if I want the rest]. We want Palestine, all of Palestine, and not one grain of soil less.
It is said in the Quran: ‘And kill them wherever you overtake them’ (Quran, Sura 2:191, Sahih International translation). We do not recognize the difference between the 1967 borders and the 1948 borders. We will resist them where we can. Aboveground, underground, and if we will have planes to fly we will fight them from the skies.”