Century of Defiance: Hamas Breaks Down Reasons for 105 Years of Resistance Leading to Al-Aqsa Storm Operation

The detailed report provides insights into the historical backdrop that fueled the Palestinian people's determination, culminating in the major operation on October 7, 2023.

In its analytical report titled "This is Our Narrative... Why the Storm of Al-Aqsa," Hamas has listed the just and rightful reasons that led the Palestinian people and their resistance to create the saga of the Storm of Al-Aqsa after decades of Israeli occupation, crimes, violations, and abuses.

In this report, Hamas explains that the events of October 7, 2023, should be discussed within a broader framework as they serve as reminders of examples of freedom struggles in the world and in contemporary history.

The struggle against occupiers has a history of more than a century. In this report, Hamas, referring to the history of occupation of Palestine, stated that the Palestinian people's struggle against occupiers did not begin on October 7. Instead, this operation started 105 years ago, from the time when the Palestinian people endured 30 years of British colonization and 75 years of Israeli occupation. Gaza, in particular, has been under a suffocating blockade for over 17 years, turning it into the world's largest open-air prison, experiencing five devastating wars initiated by Israel.

Hamas emphasized that from the year 2000 to September 2023, the occupier regime caused the deaths of 11,299 Palestinians and injured 156,768 others, the majority of whom were non-combatants. Hamas questioned whether the Palestinian people should continue to wait and rely on the United Nations and its ineffective institutions.

Regarding the objectives of resistance in the October 7 operation, Hamas emphasized that the Al-Aqsa Storm operation targeted Israeli military centers, aiming to capture Israeli soldiers for the purpose of exchange and the freedom of Palestinian captives. Hamas highlighted that the operation focused on military targets in Gaza, particularly Israeli military units and bases surrounding Gaza, avoiding the targeting of non-combatants, especially women, children, and the elderly, due to religious and ethical commitments.

Hamas stated that its resistance is based on genuine Islamic principles, and its military wing only targets occupiers and those who take up arms against their people. Regarding non-combatants captured in Gaza, Hamas asserted that they treated them humanely from the first day and sought their prompt release.

Hamas emphasized that the occupiers' claims about targeting Israeli non-combatants in the October 7 attack were pure lies. The movement clarified that Israeli forces deliberately promoted falsehoods, such as the claim that the Al-Qassam Brigades beheaded 40 Israeli infants, which Israeli sources categorically denied. Additionally, allegations of the resistance forces assaulting Israeli women were proven false, and Hamas vehemently denied such accusations.

In relation to Gaza, Hamas pointed out that some Israelis were killed by their own army's artillery fire, revealing the occupiers' indifference to the lives of prisoners and their willingness to sacrifice them. Hamas concluded that transparent and fair investigations would undoubtedly support their narrative and expose the occupiers' lies and false claims.

The Palestinian people will determine their own destiny, it said. In addition to what has been mentioned, Hamas urged countries and major powers, including the United States, Germany, Canada, and the UK, to declare their support for investigations into the crimes committed in Palestine. Hamas also called on the International Criminal Court to promptly address the crimes and violations committed in occupied Palestine.

Hamas emphasized in this report that the people of the region and the world have realized the deceit and misinformation spread by governments supporting this aggression. These governments seek excuses to justify their bias towards occupiers, while they do not want to acknowledge that the root cause of the problems lies in occupation, the usurpation of Palestinian rights, and the denial of their right to live freely.

In the report, Hamas demanded legal and judicial punishment for the occupier regime of Israel due to its continued occupation, the resulting victims, suffering, and damages caused by the occupation, and support for resistance against occupiers through all available means as a legitimate and legal right.

Addressing free countries worldwide, Hamas urged them to take a serious stance against the double standards of powers supporting the occupation. The movement emphasized that major powers should refrain from providing cover for the Zionist regime.

Hamas also called for an immediate cessation of Israel's aggressions in Gaza, an end to the crimes and genocide committed by occupiers, lifting the blockade, and serious efforts to compel occupiers to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

The report emphasized standing against efforts to force Palestinians inside and prevent any new catastrophe and resist any attempt to transfer Palestinians to the Sinai Desert, Jordan, or any other location.

This detailed and analytical report strongly opposed any international and Israeli plans or projects that aim to determine the future of the Gaza Strip in accordance with occupiers' standards or institutionalize occupation in any form. It underscored that the Palestinian people have the necessary power and competence to decide their future and shape their internal affairs, rejecting any attempt to impose authority upon them.

Hamas emphasized in its analytical report that it is a national liberation movement with legitimate goals, asserting its legitimacy in resisting occupation and the Palestinian people's right to defend themselves by any means, including armed resistance, recognized in various religions, beliefs, and international laws.

The Al-Aqsa Storm operation is described by Hamas in this report as a necessary step and a natural response to counter conspiracies and plans aimed at erasing the ideals of Palestine, confronting Israel's plans in Palestinian territories, attempts to Judaize it, and determining the fate of governing the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The report highlights that the Al-Aqsa Storm operation aimed to end the unjust blockade of the Gaza Strip, serving as a natural step towards achieving independence and freedom, similar to other free nations worldwide. Additionally, it aimed to determine the destiny of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in al-Quds, which was deemed essential. The operation was a natural step within the framework of liberation from the Israeli regime's occupation, practically eliminating the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state through extensive settlements and the Judaization of the western coastal region.