The Palestinian organization Hamas has advocated for the creation of international alliances to back resistance efforts, highlight Israel’s actions, and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, emphasized the need for a strong global coalition to support Palestinian resistance during his video address at the Freedom for Palestine conference in Istanbul, Türkiye. He stressed that traditional methods are no longer effective in the current phase of their struggle.
Haniyeh proposed the establishment of the Freedom and Justice Alliance for Palestine, dedicated to revealing the crimes of the Israeli occupation and assisting the Palestinian people in their quest for freedom. He underscored that this alliance would also focus on ending the 17-year-long siege on Gaza.
Additionally, Haniyeh called for creating a humanitarian alliance to provide aid to Palestinians in the region.
Addressing the issue of Zionism, he clarified, “Our opposition is not against Jews, but against the Zionist movement that has occupied our land and displaced our people. We seek freedom, not war… Hamas remains dedicated to the unity of the land, the people, and our cause.”
Haniyeh described Zionism as one of the most perilous movements, marked by its unique combination of racism, animosity towards Arabs and Muslims, and its colonial nature that targets Palestinian land, people, and holy sites.
Following a cross-border attack by Hamas, which Israel claims resulted in 1,200 casualties in Israel, Israel initiated extensive air and ground assaults on Gaza.
The conflict has led to the deaths of at least 23,968 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and left 60,582 injured, according to Palestinian health officials.
The UN reports that 85 percent of Gaza’s population is internally displaced, facing severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies, while 60 percent of the area’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.