Session has started. Please submit your questions. We apologize beforehand for not being able to respond to all questions due to time limitation.
Name
Moneem
- Philippines
Profession
Question
Has there been any difference for Hamas under the rule of Arafat, Abbas, and Qorei, or are they all extensions of the same policy?
Answer
The Palestinian policy, which was carried out after the Oslo Accords, takes the same features. The differences are minor, and names of persons play minor roles. So for Hamas, the difference in policy was according to the situation on the ground, and not according to the persons.
Name
Hoda Ammar
- Syria
Profession
Question
Will Qorei succeed in his new job? In fact, what is his new job? And what will Hamas do if Qorei attempts to crack down on Hamas?
Answer
Most probably he will not succeed, because Israel will not allow him to. Israel does not want peace, and it is not ready to make peace at this stage. This is what happened with Abu-Mazen, and before that with Arafat.
The Israeli policy now, in my opinion, is not looking for peace with Palestinians. It feels strong, and it is not ready to give anything. Israelis want a Palestinian negotiator who will give them everything for nothing.
Concerning the second part of the question, Hamas believes that no Palestinian official or person will attempt to attack Hamas, because Hamas is a big part of the Palestinian people, and the goals of Hamas in this stage are very similar to the goals of all other factions - in line with those of the people themselves.
Name
Fukuyama
-
Profession
Question
Will the tension between the Palestinian Authority and the Islamic forces erupt anytime soon? Am I correct in thinking that this eruption is inevitable, and that it is merely a matter of time?
Answer
We hope that this will not happen. Our people, the Palestinian Authority and the different factions believe that national unity is sacred and should be saved all the time. In Hamas, we will work always to prevent this eruption of clash, and we are hopeful that this will never happen.
Name
Jihadi
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
Is the PNA cooperating extensively with international efforts to cut-off funding for Hamas? Have these cuts hit Hamas hard?
Answer
Concerning the cut off funds for Hamas, this harms mainly the poor Palestinian people, and not Hamas. Hamas is engaged in a serious of projects for helping the poor. Those who ordered such measures know that well. What they are doing is trying to punish the Palestinian people for their role and support of the Intifada.
Hamas always worked with little funds. We believe that Muslims and supporters of the Palestinian cause all over the world will find ways to support the Palestinian people and Hamas.
In addition, everybody knows, including those foolish politicians who acted against Hamas, that Hamas and its leaders don't have any bank accounts.
Name
Miguel
- United States
Profession
Question
Since it is obviously wrong when Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian children, why isn't it equally wrong when Palestinian freedom fighters kill Israeli children or civilians?
Answer
Palestinian freedom fighters never intended to kill or harm Israeli children, although this was the Israeli official policy since its creation. There was not a single incident, for example, in which Hamas carried out an operation specifically targeting children. Some children may be at the site of an operation. We are sorry for that. Yet Hamas offered several times proposals to end the killing of civilians on both sides. Israel never accepted these offers.
The killing of Israeli civilians began as a retaliation for Israeli massacres against Palestinian civilians.
Name
Jay
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
What is the extent of cooperation between Hamas and the other fighting forces in Palestine? Do you still maintain any sort of cooperation with the Authority? Or in fact, with anyone other than Islamic Jihad?
Answer
Of course we have cooperation with everybody with no exceptions. It is one of the fruits of the Intifada that our people felt the severe attack by our enemy against everybody. Thank God, we are more united today than we have ever been before.
One of the fundamentals of the Hamas policy is to cooperate with other factions, since we are all brothers, and have the same goals, even if we have some differences in approach.
Name
Mohamed
- South Africa
Profession
Question
When will Hamas properly address the issue of traitors and double agents in its ranks? Doesn’t Hamas realize that the large number of assassinations indicates a security leak somewhere? Stop wasting valuable resources! Find the leak, fix it!
Answer
Sheikd Ahmad Yassin, the founder of Hamas, declared a month ago that if the Palestinian Authority does not solve this problem seriously, Hamas will take this responsibility. We know that the traitors cause big harm to our cause and people, and we believe that this should be stopped.
We haven't been working on this issue because it was the duty of the PA, and we did not want to have problems with them, since this is their job.
Yet, Hamas always asked them and pushed with every Palestinian to put an end to those acts. Unfortunately, the PA did not work on that, they were protected by the Oslo Accords.
Name
Brian
- United States
Profession
Web design
Question
Recently 29 Israli pilots have refused orders to follow missions that would endanger the lives of your children and women.
My two questions are
- do you see this as Israel weakening or do you see it as a genuine act of goodwill?
- how will this affect your fighting efforts?
Answer
We believe that there are many people everywhere, even in Israel, who don't like and don't agree with the Israeli policies of aggression and killing.
Unfortunately, these people form a small number, and don't affect the policies of Israel. We welcome such initiatives, although we know that these pilots will pay, and already paid, the price for their bravery.
Also, this is a result of the rightful and brave struggle of our people.
Once this defiance turns to a powerful move against Israel torture and killings, and results in ending occupation, of course it will be taken into consideration in our mission for liberation.
Name
Adil
- United States
Profession
journalist
Question
Do you see Hamas changing its military strategy to avoid in-fighting with Fatah and to gain international sympathy for the Palestinian cause?
Answer
We believe that our military strategy is gaining support from Fatah and all other Palestinian factions, in addition to our people. People all over the world who are aware of our problem should support us, since all other ways of struggle could not stop our tragedy. We tried all other means since 1948, including relying on the UN and great powers, and then peace inititives, and the result was more killing and torture of our people on the hands of the Israelis.
Name
Ahmed
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Why do you seek a ceasefire with the Jews?! Do you really believe it brings any benefit? If it gives you the opportunity to rearm and prepare, it gives them more opportunities too.
Answer
In our political moves we always study all factors that make us stronger and closer to our goal and make our enemy weaker. When the ceasefire was offered, it was for our benefit as movement, people and cause. We knew and still know that the Israelis will not respect any agreement unless we are strong enough to force them to accept it.
Yet this does not mean that we should not benefit from the changes and the different policies to make some gains or to avoid some problems.
In addition, sometimes we need to make people realize what we have already realized: It is impossible to make peace with Israel under this fanatic government. For those who think that we don't believe except in fighting, we take this opportunity to tell them that the Israelis are not ready for peace or anything except killing.
Name
Maha
- Canada
Profession
Question
Does the death of the likes of Edward Said mean anything to Hamas?
Answer
Sure. We believe that we lost a great thinker who devoted his life to explain the truth to the Western people.
Name
Abdul
- Canada
Profession
Question
Leaving aside the definition of borders, does Hamas accept the concept of a two state solution, or is the existence of a State of Israel unacceptable to Hamas?
Answer
Lately, several Israeli thinkers who believed in a two state solution changed their minds. They explained their new belief in just one state in their newspapers in the past few days. For us, we believe that the Palestinian people have the right to have their own state where they can live freely as they did before 1948. In this country all people should live equally despite their religeon, race, or color. This cannot be fulfilled under the Israeli government or under the Zionist idea, which is based totally on racism.
Hamas therefore, cannot accept the state of Israel, because it is a racist state, and unable to offer equality and freedom to non-Jewish citizens. At the same time it still denies the right of refugees to return to their homeland.
Name
Talal Malik
-
Profession
Question
Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatuLlah.
What is the future of any political dialogue Hamas might have with the so-called Palestinian Authority and the Zionist regime in light of the recent asassinations and continuing attacks by the Zionist regime?
jazakhallah khairun
Answer
It should be understood that Hamas has no connection or dialogue with Israel.
The dialogue, however, with the PA has never stopped, since we have the same cause, and we are under the same attack by Israel.
Name
Abdul
-
Profession
Question
What is Hamas goal? Why it is consider as a terrorist group? Is they really doing jihad? We heard a rumors that they are miss using some innocents, is it? Why they are infamous Please shed more light on them
Answer
Our goal is to liberate our homeland, Palestine, and return the refugees to their homeland.
Israel and the US government carried a huge campaign against Hamas to lable it as a terrorist organization. The reason is because Hamas became strong enough to threaten the very policy of occupation.
Hamas is not using anybody. Hamas is spreading its ideas, and people accept them. People act according to their beliefs and convictions.
Hamas is famous because it has the support of the majority of the people, not only in Palestine, but also all over the world. It represents the feelings and and voices of the oppressed against ruthlessness and aggression. Moreover, Allah blessed this land, Palestine, and those who struggle in His name against His enemies.
Name
LORA
-
Profession
Question
ASSALAMU ALAYKUM. It's a shame when we see on TV that poor childrens, of Palestina, that are inculcated to be "martyr". What does Islam say about that thing? Really, you think that this is to be a martyr? THANK YOU.
Answer
It is more shame to know that those children, even infants, are victims of the continuous bloody policies of the Israeli governments and its butchers. If you live in Palestine, and feel the humiliation and torture that takes place against everybody, including infants and children, women, and elderly people, what would you do? What would you have done had you seen Muhammad al-Durra (8 years old) or Iman Hijjo (18 months) being killed in cold blood?
In his biography, Sharon wrote in his biography that he began fighting against Palestinians when he was 14 years old. What do you call this? Most of the soldiers who serve in the occupied Palestinian towns and villages, who shoot at people everyday, are between 17-18 years of age. Nobody calls upon Israel to stop sending "children" to kill innocent civilians.
Name
Samira
-
Profession
Question
Is Hamas a terrorist group?
Answer
Hamas is a freedom fighting organization. It is working to liberate the homeland of the Palestinians. It would be considered a "terrorist group" once you consider George Washington a terrorist. Hamas will be a "terrorist organization" once you consider the French struggle against the Nazi occupation of France, as terrorism. Fighting against occupation is considered a right by international law.
Name
Edward
-
Profession
Question
The Western media charaterizes Hamas martydom operations as "terrorism". The US govt demands that Arafat crackdown on these operations. Are these operations damaging the image of Palestians, in particular, and Arabs/Muslims, in general, in the West? If so, should the operations be reduced, increased or stay at the current level.
Answer
The Palestinian people, which has been suffering since 1917, tried all ways to gain its legitimate rights. Unfortunately, the world turned deaf and blind, and did nothing, except increasing the suffering. Please, suggest for us any peaceful way that may end the occupation, and we will be most thankful.
From 1948 until 1965, we the Palestinians did not take any action against Israelis, except asking the UN and other countries to help us. What did the world do for us? All UN resolutions were executed except those related to our problem, and except those that condemn Israeli atrocities.
Name
Josh
- United States
Profession
Question
Do you target Israeli civilians because Israel targets Palestinian civilians? If so, do you think this is allowed by Islam?
Answer
I answered similar questions earlier. We were forced to fight for our cause after begging for our rights for several years, with no answer or help.
Instead of asking the barehanded victim to stop defending himself, one should ask the aggressor, who owns tanks, missiles, plains, and even atomic warfare, to stop his aggression.
Name
Talal
-
Profession
Question
Will there be any change in the Hamas military operations against the Zionists, with more of a focus on military/settler targets rather than civilian?
Answer
Civilians have never been targets for Hamas. But the Israelis list every killed person as a civilian, even if he was a soldier. For example, the last operation near Tel Aviv, the target was a military base, and those who were killed were soldiers, yet Israelis called them civilians.
We sould bear in mind that every citizen in Israel should be part of the army. It is a militarized society.
Name
Haruun
- Indonesia
Profession
Technician
Question
Why does Hamas attack on un-suspecting Israeli people only, while it is well known that the PLO and its leaders are traitors to their people and land and are classified as Munafiqun? Does not Allah tell us the Munafiqun are those worse than the Kufars?
Answer
Hamas does not consider the PLO and its leaders as traitors, but as brothers who may think differently. We are all working to liberate our land. But we have different ways of doing that.
We disagree with some of the PLO policies, but that does not give us the right to call them traitors, or munafiqun.
Name
Abdul
-
Profession
Question
As salamu alaikum. Can you tell me some way to contribute money to HAMAS, etc.? Especially, now, with all the security and watching going on, it is diffciult.
Answer
Anybody wants to give any kind of support to Hamas will find the way. It is not too difficult. You can find the way easily in your place where you live and in the cummunity arround you.
Ask the help of Allah, and he will guide you to the right and easy way.
