Manifest on the conflict of Gaza

Background:

- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which holds the political control in the Gaza Strip, has decided to bring into effect their statute – a document of exaltation of religious intolerance and its effects - launching Qassam missiles on the territory of Israel.

- The initiatives for peace in the region have not achieved great success. During the negotiations mediated by Egypt, Hamas and Israel reached an agreement which established the end of military operations by Israel and a gradual opening of borders in the Gaza Strip, while Hamas committed itself to stop the launching of Qassam missiles in southern Israel

- Hamas announced they wouldn’t renew the truce, which ended on December 19th, firing Qassam missiles on an ongoing basis.

- On December 26th, Israel started a military operation in Gaza in order to disarticulate the infra structure of Hamas.

-  Hamas Covenant or Charter, which states their ideology and political platform, is very clear in announcing the destruction of Israel as their main objective:

Art. XI – The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waaf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgment Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up.

Art. XII – (...) Resisting and quelling the enemy become the individual duty of every Moslem, male or female.
- Regarding the mediation of the conflict by international entities, the Hamas Covenant states that:

Art. XIII – Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement. (..)There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad (Jihad means “effort” but has assumed the significance of “holly war” over time). Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.

• The Hamas Charter is an open declaration aimed at justifying and incentivating the war and the annihilation of the Israeli people and  the state of Israel:

Art. XV – The day that enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Moslem. In face of the Jews' usurpation of Palestine, it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised.

Art. XXVIII – The Zionist invasion is a vicious invasion. It does not refrain from resorting to all methods, using all evil and contemptible ways to achieve its end. (…) Arab countries surrounding Israel are asked to open their borders before the fighters from among the Arab and Islamic nations so that they could consolidate their efforts with those of their Moslem brethren in Palestine.  As for the other Arab and Islamic countries, they are asked to facilitate the movement of the fighters from and to it, and this is the least thing they could do. (…) Israel, Judaism and Jews challenge Islam and the Moslem people.

• Analysis :

The present situation goes beyond the logic of dialogue and balanced mediation. When one party (the Hamas) will not accept any peaceful negotiation, the other party finds itself no other alternative then defending itself from the unjustified attacks.
 
However, in order to avoid the loss of innocent lives, an action of the UN through its Security Council is required, to ensure stability in the region and address the problem without any damages, trying to find justice in such a difficult and passionate cause.

The international community has not yet undertaken a role of real mediation in face of conflicts world wide, committing itself to the task of creating a world court with world jurisdiction, which can regulate the activities of transnational states.

Cicero used to say that in order to be free, one must be slave of laws. We quote this because the world as a community of nations still lacks a legal framework to allow countries to be truly free and their citizens to experience peace.

The paradigm of the “law of the jungle”, where each one makes its own rules, mainly based on their physical strength, should be changed when it comes to countries too in order to avoid one’s self-destruction.

When the Hamas announces the elimination of the Jewish state for the establishment of an empire of Islam in that territory, thus engaging in a systematic policy of violence, trying to impose itself by force, fear and terror, we witness its irrationality. At the same time, however, it legitimizes Israel's right to defend itself.

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