Hamas celebrates support for Palestine at the UN but defends its right to arms

Jerusalem.- Hamas thanked this Tuesday the celebration of the conference in the UN General Assembly to promote the recognition of the Palestinian State and the two-State solution, but considered that until the occupation of Israel ends, it has the right to armed resistance. “The right to armed resistance is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people, recognized by international laws and conventions, and we will exercise it until the occupation ends and an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established,” he stated in a statement.

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On Monday, the UN held what was called the International High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Resolution of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

Its participants had approved on September 12 the so-called New York Declaration, a resolution in which they called for an immediate ceasefire for the Gaza Strip, the release of the 48 hostages remaining in the enclave, the disarmament of Hamas and that this group be excluded from a future Government in Gaza to give way to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

“We welcome the joint statement issued by the conference presidency to transform international positions into concrete actions,” added Hamas in its note. The Islamist group also said it welcomed “with satisfaction all positions aimed at achieving justice” for the Palestinian people “and fulfilling their aspirations for liberation and return to their land.” “We welcome calls to end the Zionist occupation of Palestinian land, establish a fully sovereign Palestinian state, and allow our people to exercise their legitimate national rights,” he stressed. In his opinion, leaving the Israeli government, which he called “fascist and extremist,” “unpunished,” constitutes a stain for all those who “support the occupation” and “do not stop the aggression or bring their criminal leaders to justice.” But until the occupation ends and an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established, as he detailed, both they and “all resistance forces” consider that “armed resistance is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people, recognized by international laws and conventions.” Their statement comes after ten new countries joined the recognition of the Palestinian state between last Sunday and Monday, which means that out of the 193 countries with seats in the UN, 157 already recognize this Arab state. The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, described the international conference this Monday as “theater” and assured that “it will not change the lives of Palestinians on the ground”, while the US president, Donald Trump, considered this Tuesday that the recognition of Palestine is “a reward” for Hamas.