Ismail Haniyeh People Quotations

I salute all the nations of the Arab Spring and I salute the heroic people of Syria who are striving for freedom, democracy and reform.

Today three-quarters of the Palestinian people are displaced: there are 5 million Palestinian refugees throughout the world.

The Europeans and Americans have said the martyrdom operations are why Hamas has been put on the terrorist list. But now these operations have stopped. Did they then remove Hamas from the list of terrorist organisations? We do not launch wars. We are people resisting occupation.

I ask the American administration not to participate in any resolution that will double the suffering of the Palestinian people. I am convinced that the American people would not want to see the Palestinians suffer the way they do.

The liberals and free people of the world will not like to see the Palestinian people living under siege. We have received indications from the international community that they will not stop their aid.

The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this is the reason why the Palestinian people chose Hamas. However, there is no doubt that the corruption helped Hamas's victory.

The Palestinian people do not beg the world for a state, and the state can't be created through decisions and initiatives. States liberate their land first and then the political body can be established.

We repeat today that we are with the establishment of a Palestinian state on any liberated part of Palestinian land that is agreed upon by the Palestinian people, without recognizing Israel or conceding any inch of historical Palestine.

Our people will not ... kneel before such Israeli measures.

Such a plan definitely won't be accepted by the Palestinian people or the Palestinian government.

Whoever thinks economic pressure could push our government to succumb or that it could weaken the determination and the steadfastness of our proud people is mistaken.

We call on you to understand the priorities of our Palestinian people at this stage and continue the spiritual and financial support in order to push the region towards stability rather than pressure and tension.

We will prove to the people that we are able to rebuild our homeland.

We will protect the right of our people to defend themselves against the occupation.

This government will lead its people toward a dignified life.

The Israelis are trying to starve innocent people by taking money from our taxes, and we are going to fight this by all legal means. This collective punishment will not break the determination of the Palestinian people.

We urge you to understand the Palestinian reality, and not to rush in and impose conditions and demands that ignore this reality and increase the suffering of the people.

The people have said yes to change and reform. The majority of the Palestinians have said yes to the slogan, 'Islam is the solution.' The people also voted in favor of our policy of resistance and against the occupation. Our policy is designed to defend Jerusalem, achieve the right of return for all refugees and the release of our prisoners.

The underlying problem remains the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and the continuing Israeli assaults against our people.

The great Palestinian people should not be punished for choosing their leadership in free and democratic elections. Those who believe that economic pressures will force our government into submission are wrong.