The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas stated on Wednesday that the Balfour Declaration is an illegal and unjust declaration that violated the basic right to exist of the Palestinian people in their homeland.“Today, November 2nd, marks the 94th anniversary of the infamous Balfour Declaration. Our people remain steadfast, patient, and committed to their national rights,” Hamas said in its statement. “The aggression by the Zionist occupation against our people in Gaza, the violations in the West Bank, the illegal settlement activities in occupied Jerusalem, and the attempts to force the Palestinians out of their lands, cannot and will not, be able to eliminate the resistance and the steadfastness of our people struggling for freedom, for the Right of Return to their homeland.”
Hamas further stated that Britain, “…and all other colonial countries that support the Israeli occupation, are responsible for what happened and what is still happening, to the Palestinian people living under occupation and facing ongoing racist and Zionist crimes.”
It added that the success of the Palestinian resistance in capturing Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, and in achieving the prisoner-swap deal, “is considered a clear proof that only resistance can capture more soldiers, secure the release of more detainees, and liberate Palestine and the stolen rights.”
The movement also said that only comprehensive dialogue between all Palestinian factions and units among all Palestinians, can secure the national rights of the Palestinian people for liberation and independence.
They said that resistance is a legitimate and an internationally guaranteed right that the Palestinian people choose in order to liberate Palestine, and establish their sovereign and independent state.
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Text of the Balfour declaration:
Foreign Office,
November 2nd, 1917.
Dear Lord Rothschild,
I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet:
‘His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country’.
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours sincerely
Arthur James Balfour
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