Khaled Mashaal, the former chairman of Hamas’ political bureau, was interviewed by the Al-Jazeera network recently and called for Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria to wage “guerrilla warfare” against Israel.
In the interview, which aired on December 2 and was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Mashaal said that “resistance” is the basis of day-to-day life for people under occupation.
He criticized Fatah for not engaging in "resistance" and added, "The West Bank, which spans over 5,600 square kilometers, and which has mountains and valleys... has everything necessary for guerrilla warfare."
"A country cannot be liberated and rights cannot be restored without resistance. It is not possible. Without resistance, the occupation cannot be defeated or forced to retreat. Every means of power must be put to use,” said Mashaal.
"When did Israel withdraw from southern Lebanon? It wasn’t a result of negotiations – not in Madrid and not in Washington. It retreated as a result of resistance. When did it retreat from Gaza? After the (Second) Intifada in 2000 and the heroic resistance. Today we are being called and preparing to force Israel to retreat from Jerusalem and from the West Bank. Allah willing, this is on the way to its retreat from all of Palestine,” he continued.
Mashaal, who served as Hamas’ politburo chief for two terms, was replaced last year by Ismail Haniyeh.
He had led the terrorist organization for 20 years, largely from his office in Damascus, though he now resides in Qatar, having moved there in 2012 after Hamas distanced itself from the Syrian government.