Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday (December 14, 2011) called for the formation of an Arab army “to liberate Jerusalem and the Aksa Mosque very soon.”
Addressing tens of thousands of supporters during a rally in Gaza City marking the 24th anniversary of the founding of Hamas, Haniyeh said his movement remained committed to armed struggle as a strategic option to liberate “all the occupied Palestinian territories,” and that Hamas, “together with all the free peoples, will lead the fight to liberate all Palestine.”
Held under the banner of “Jerusalem, We are Coming,” the rally was one of the biggest shows of support for Hamas in recent years.
The Hamas leader heaped praise on the Arab Spring, saying the antiregime protests have benefited Hamas in particular and the Palestinian cause in general.
According to the figures, Hamas killed 1,365 Israelis and wounded 6,411 others, while it lost 1,848 of its men. The group boasted that its members carried out 1,117 “jihad” attacks, including 87 suicide bombings. It also said that its members fired 11,093 rockets and missiles at Israel over the past 24 years.