Hamas leader tells Israel to implement UN resolution

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has urged Israel to implement the recently-passed UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt in illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.

Speaking at an event organised by the Turkey-based YediHilal (Seven Crescent) Association in Istanbul, Meshaal said Palestinians want their lands to be “completely free from occupiers”. He added:

We want to take back our land in such a way that settlers are removed and there are no more settlements. We want to return to a Palestine where there are no invaders and enemies

His speech at the Halic Congress Centre saw several pauses during which people from the crowd chanted pro-Palestine slogans and called on the Israeli government to revise its policies that oppress Palestinians in their lands.

Meshaal added:

We want to declare that we back the UN’s fair decision and we expect more such fair decisions on this issue…this is a correction of at least one of the mistakes that the US and the international community have previously made in matters related to Palestine

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He thanked all governments and institutions who opposed Israel’s settlement policies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had described the UN Security Council resolution as “anti-Israel” and “shameful”.

About the Israeli leader, the Hamas leader said: “Netanyahu is in a state of madness because of this decision. “In the past years, Israel’s presence for some states could be seen as a profitable investment. But today, for the international community, Israel has become a burden.” He urged the international community and the Muslim world to stand with the “righteous struggle” because “the invaders are spreading their occupation step by step by opening new settlements in our territory”.

Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, has called repeatedly for taking steps to end the decades-long Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

On Friday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution demanding Israel to halt settlement building and expansion in the Palestinian territories. The resolution, which was co-sponsored by Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela, was passed by a 14-0 vote after the United States abstained.

As a response to the resolution, Israel and it’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to conduct ‘revenge demolitions‘ of Palestinian homes; approved building some 5,600 housing units in East Jerusalem for illegal settlements;  cut funding to five UN institutions worth $7.8 million; threatened to directly target UNRWA with Trump’s help; and recalled it’s ambassadors from Senegal and New Zealand.