One day of Hamas TV hate and terror messages:
Hamas MP: “Death to Israel,” “sons of Zion” and “whoever normalizes with Israel” should burn
Hamas threatens Israel: “Our hands are squeezing the trigger… [our] heroic men… will sacrifice their blood”
Jews dirty the Al-Aqsa compound, site must be cleansed, Jews no right to the Temple Mount
“Resistance” – i.e., violence and terror – will free the prisoners, not “the UN Security Council” nor “Negotiations”
Only bullets will free the Palestinian prisoners
Hamas glorifies murderers, encourages terror and kidnappings
After weeks of Hamas launching incendiary devices and rockets into Israel, creating extensive fires in nature reserves and agricultural areas, a cease-fire was reached last week after Qatari Envoy Muhammad Al-Emadi with his 30 million dollar aid promised to continue Qatar’s monthly aid through the end of the year. It would be naïve to think that this cease fire signals a fundamental change in Hamas policy.
Palestinian Media Watch looked into one day of Hamas TV broadcasts on Aug. 23, 2020 - two days before Israel let the Qatari Envoy and his money into the Strip. Hamas’ broadcasts demonstrate the depths of hate Hamas disseminates against Israel and Jews alongside its pro-terror and murder messages.
The following anti-Israel, anti-Jews, and pro-terror messages were all part of Hamas’ broadcasts on that one day:
- Hamas MP: “Death to Israel,” “sons of Zion” and “whoever normalizes with Israel” should burn
During a session in the Hamas PA Parliament, MP Ismail Ashqar read a statement calling for “death to Israel.” On the backdrop of the commemoration of the arson at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969, Ashqar called for “burning” the “sons of Zion” and anyone who “normalizes relations” with Israel in a clear reference to the UAE’s recent peace agreement with Israel. He also criticized the PA for its security coordination with Israel, wishing it would burn too:
Hamas PA Parliament Member Ismail Ashqar: “The fire [in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969] is still burning and still has not been extinguished since its occupation by the Zionist terror. Because the Muslims are distracted from it, and they are in a deep slumber … The arson in Jerusalem demands a greater arson that will burn its thieves, burn the attacking sons of Zion, burn the lowly Arabs and non-Arabs, burn those (i.e., the PA) who are carrying out security coordination [with Israel] and those dealing in [Jerusalem’s] sanctity, and burn whoever normalizes their relations (i.e., UAE) and flatters the occupation. Long live Jerusalem, free and proud! … ! Long live Palestine, free and eternal; and death to Israel, the occupation, and the Zionist terror!”
[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Aug. 23, 2020]
- Hamas threatens Israel: “Our hands are squeezing the trigger… [our] heroic men… will sacrifice their blood”
Footage of masked Hamas terrorists with assault rifles was mixed in a TV filler with part of a speech by Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya who threatened Israel with terror:
Hamas Political Bureau member Khalil Al-Hayya: “We are saying to the occupation that we are primed and ready, and our hands are squeezing the trigger. We’re not afraid of threats or hints about an attack here or killings or bombings. Know that bombings will be answered with bombings. Rockets will be answered with rockets. Casualties will be answered with casualties! Palestine – its people lives! And it has fortunate heroic men. They will sacrifice their blood and all that is precious to them in defense of their land, defense of their Jerusalem, defense of their heritage, and defense of their present and future!”
[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Aug. 23, 2020]
- Hamas glorifies murderers, encourages terror and kidnappings
In another filler and song broadcast on the same day, Hamas glorified past terror attacks in which Israeli soldiers were murdered, and Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped. Hamas also boasted of its holding of two Israeli captives, Avraham Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed who both suffer from a mental health disorder, and its holding of the bodies of two dead soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who were killed during the 2014 Gaza War. Addressing imprisoned Palestinian terrorists, Hamas encouraged more terror and promised more kidnappings for trading more prisoners in exchange deals. The filler also glorified Ahlam Tamimi – the female terrorist who chose the Sbarro pizza shop in Jerusalem as target for a bombing in 2001 and led the suicide bomber there who murdered 15 and wounded over 100. Tamimi was released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit exchange deal and Hamas is using her release to encourage imprisoned female terrorists and other potential terrorists, telling them that prison sentences should not deter them because they don’t last:
“By Allah, if the blood turns into rivers, their prisons will not remain but will be destroyed.
The mind is not at peace – not by night nor by day – until he [the prisoner] will return to the home of the precious ones…
We trampled them at Nahal Oz (i.e., killed five Israeli soldiers) – we came to trample the prison guards…
The blow to you will not last, the prison guard’s head is submissive – through [Israeli soldier Gilad] Shalit and several [like Israeli soldier Oron] Shaul.
Day and night we are preparing tunnels…
We came from below, from the land, from the air…
Our free women will not be deprived, they will not remain among the oppressors – ask Ahlam Tamimi (i.e., terrorist, involved in planning of 15).
We will never forget the Martyr prisoners who were led as grooms to Heaven …
[Yahya] Al-Sinwar (i.e., terrorist, involved in murder of 2) has emerged from your prison,
He will complete the path with determination and will prepare a [prisoner exchange] deal of free people…
His weapon will shake the ground.”[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Aug. 23, 2020]
- Jews dirty the Al-Aqsa compound, site must be cleansed, Jews no right to the Temple Mount
In an animated cartoon Hamas explained to viewers that the presence of Jews on the Temple Mount is dirtying the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and that the site will be cleansed of all Jews, as they will be swept away:
Text on screen: “The dust of time will not last”
[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Aug. 23, 2020]
The filler was produced by the Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing.
- “Resistance” – i.e., violence and terror – will free the prisoners, not “the UN Security Council” nor “Negotiations”
Another animation showed the hand of someone attempting to open a prison cell door with various keys. The first key labeled “[UN] Security Council” can’t open the door, and neither can the second key labeled “negotiations.” Then a hand of a Hamas fighter with a black sleeve and black fingerless tactical gloves with a key labeled “resistance” succeeds in opening the door and freeing the prisoner inside. As the prisoner and the Hamas fighter walk towards the prison exit, pictures of various imprisoned terrorist murderers appear on the screen is if they are being released from prison: Abdallah Barghouti (built bombs that murdered 67), Abbas Al-Sayid (planned suicide bombings murdering 35), Marwan Barghouti planned murders of at least 5), Ahmad Sa'adat (head of PFLP terror organization), and Karim Younes (murdered Israeli soldier). [Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Aug. 23, 2020
- Only bullets will free the Palestinian prisoners
The message that only violence and terror will free Palestinian prisoners also appeared in another filler between programs. A Hamas fighter loads bullets into an ammunition magazine and shoots at a hand with an Israeli flag. The Israeli hand is squeezing a white dove symbolizing the “peace seeking” Palestinian prisoners – i.e., imprisoned terrorists. As the Hamas fighter shoots the Israeli, the dove is set free.
Text on screen: “Our prisoners, your images have never disappeared from our eyes”
[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Aug. 23, 2020]
The filler was produced by the Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing.
Michael Rohan - Australian Christian with a mental health disorder who set fire to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969. For years, the Palestinian Authority has falsely accused Israel of setting the fire.
Israel-UAE peace agreement (Abraham Accords) – an agreement normalizing diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was announced on Aug. 13, 2020, under the mediation of US President Donald Trump. Pursuant to the agreement, the countries will discuss bilateral cooperation on a number of topics. In exchange for the agreement, Israel agreed to suspend its previously announced plans to apply Israel's civilian law to parts of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley as per the Trump peace plan. The US announced that “Muslims throughout the world who wish to come in peace to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque, will now be able to fly to Tel Aviv through Abu Dhabi to do so and will be welcomed.”
Gaza War 2014 / Operation Protective Edge – In June 2014, Hamas escalated its hostilities and attacks against Israel - including the firing of numerous rockets at Israel. Israel responded with Operation Protective Edge, which aimed at destroying Hamas' ability to launch rockets and its terror infrastructure in general, which included its building of cross-border tunnels for the purpose of terror attacks and kidnappings. The war began on July 7, 2014, when the Israeli government ordered the Israeli army to launch an aerial operation against Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, and continued until Aug. 26, 2014, when an open-ended ceasefire was declared. During the war, 32 Hamas cross-border tunnels built for the purpose of terror attacks were destroyed, and two thirds of Hamas' rocket arsenal was used up or destroyed. Despite claims by Hamas and others of Israel using disproportionate force and of an extreme amount of civilian casualties, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, stated on Nov. 6, 2014, that Israel had gone to “extraordinary lengths to limit collateral damage and prevent civilian casualties in the Gaza conflict.”
Ahlam Tamimi - Palestinian female terrorist who led suicide bomber Izz Al-Din Al-Masri to the Sbarro pizza shop in Jerusalem where he murdered 15 people, 7 of them children, and wounded 130 on Aug. 9, 2001. Tamimi has explained that she chose Sbarro because she expected it to be full, and she expressed disappointment at initial reports indicating few victims: "They said...there had been a Martyrdom attack at the Sbarro restaurant, and that 3 people were killed... I was a bit disappointed, because I had hoped for a larger toll." Tamimi was sentenced to 16 life sentences, but was released in October 2011 as part of the Shalit prisoner exchange deal between the Israeli government and Hamas. In that deal, Israel released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held hostage by Hamas for more than 5 years.
Gilad Shalit was an Israeli soldier who was kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas for more than 5 years. During that time, he was denied visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross and was not allowed communication with his family, in violation of his rights under the Geneva Convention. Numerous human rights organizations criticized Hamas for confining Shalit under conditions that were contrary to international humanitarian law. In October 2011, the Israeli government agreed to release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prison in exchange for Shalit.
Mazen Fuqaha - Palestinian terrorist and Hamas member who planned the suicide attack on bus no. 361 at the Meron Junction in northern Israel on Aug. 4, 2002. 9 were murdered and approximately 50 were wounded in the attack. Fuqaha was sentenced to 9 life sentences and an additional 50 years of imprisonment, but was released in the Shalit prisoner exchange deal between the Israeli government and Hamas in 2011 and deported to Gaza, where he continued to engage in terrorist activity. Fuqaha was killed in March 2017 by unidentified assassins. Hamas blames Israel for his assassination.
Yahya Al-Sinwar - Palestinian terrorist and senior member of the Hamas terror organization. Al-Sinwar was involved in the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldier Nachshon Wachsman in October 1994. Israeli soldier Nir Poraz was murdered during Israel's attempt to rescue Wachsman. Al-Sinwar was sentenced to 4 life sentences, but was released in the exchange deal for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011.
Israel-Hamas clash in November 2018 – an Israeli special forces unit entered the Gaza Strip on a secret mission on Nov. 11, 2018, and exchanged fire with Palestinian terrorists after being exposed. An Israeli lieutenant colonel and 7 terrorists – including Hamas Commander of Khan Yunis Nour Barakeh – were killed in the exchange. Following the incident Hamas fired hundreds of missiles at Israeli civilian targets, wounding a number of Israelis and killing a Palestinian worker in Ashkelon, and Israel bombed a number of terror targets in Gaza. A ceasefire was reached on Nov. 14, 2018.
Abbas Al-Sayid - serving 35 life sentences for planning two suicide bombings, one at a Passover dinner at the Park Hotel in Netanya (30 murdered, March 27, 2002) and another outside a shopping Mall in Netanya (5 murdered, May 18, 2001).
Ahmad Sa’adat - serving a 30-year sentence for heading the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terror organization. A song at a PFLP event also praised him for planning the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi in 2001, but he has not been tried for this crime.
Marwan Barghouti – Palestinian terrorist and member of the Palestinian Authority parliament who is serving 5 life sentences for orchestrating three shooting attacks in which 5 people were murdered: one attack on the Jerusalem-Maale Adumim road (June 12, 2001) in which Greek Orthodox monk Tsibouktsakis Germanus was murdered by terrorists Ismail Radaida and Yasser Ah'Rabai, another attack at a gas station in Givat Zeev near Jerusalem (Jan. 15, 2002) in which Yoela Hen was murdered by terrorists led by Mohammed Matla, and one shooting and stabbing attack at the Seafood Market restaurant in Tel Aviv (March 5, 2002) in which Eli Dahan, Yosef Habi, and Police Officer Sergeant-Major Salim Barakat, were murdered by terrorist Ibrahim Hasouna. When arrested by Israel in 2002, Barghouti headed the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction). After he was convicted and imprisoned, he was re-elected as a member of the Palestinian Authority parliament. On Dec. 4, 2016, he was elected to Fatah's Central Committee.
Karim Younes - Israeli Arab terrorist who kidnapped and murdered Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 together with his cousin Maher Younes. Younes was originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012. Younes is serving a 40-year sentence. In May 2017 Younes was appointed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to the Fatah Central Committee. Younes was released from prison on Jan. 5, 2023.