Khaled Mashaal, a leading figure in Hamas, once again openly advocated for the total destruction of Israel during a pro-Palestinian conference held in Istanbul, Turkey
Speaking via video conference, he vehemently rejected the central points of the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, which has UN support and seeks to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Mashaal stated that the growing anti-Israel sentiment in the world, intensified after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has opened a historic opportunity to “remove this entity [Israel] from our homeland” and completely exclude it from the international stage.
He believes the time has come for the entire Islamic nation to unite for the liberation of Jerusalem, the “purification” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the retaking of holy sites for both Muslims and Christians.
The terrorist leader was categorical in rejecting the demand for Hamas’s disarmament and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, fundamental conditions of the American agreement.
“Protecting the resistance project and its weapons is the right of our people to defend themselves,” he declared, adding that “the resistance and its weapons are the honor and pride of the ummah” (the global Islamic community) and that “a thousand declarations are not worth a single projectile.”
He also repudiated any form of international trusteeship, mandate, or reoccupation of Gaza, the Judea-Samaria, or any part of Palestine, directly criticizing the resolution approved by the UN Security Council on November 17th.
This document foresees the creation of an International Stabilization Force and a Peace Council that would act as a transitional authority in Gaza.
For Mashaal, only Palestinians have the right to govern themselves and decide their future, without external frameworks that he considers misleading.
With a defiant tone, he stated that “this is our land, our homeland, this is our destiny, and we are a people who will not be broken.” According to him, even after two years of war and all the weaponry sent to Israel by various countries, no one has managed to break the Palestinian will.
“This is Gaza, this is the great Palestine – the one that expels invaders,” he exclaimed.
Further proof that Hamas is repeatedly violating the ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/46jCx0AXy4
? Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) December 6, 2025
Among Hamas’s post-war priorities listed by Mashaal are preventing the so-called “Judaization” of Judea and Samaria (Judea-Samaria), freeing all terrorists imprisoned in Israel, strengthening Arab unity against the Jewish state, persecuting Israeli leaders abroad, and expanding anti-Israel sentiment in universities, the media, and world politics.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reacted quickly, stating that Hamas is “mocking President Trump’s peace plan” and that Mashaal’s words directly contradict the essential terms of the agreement.
Under the US-mediated plan, already in effect since last month, Hamas has committed to returning the bodies of hostages held captive and, in a second phase, to disarming upon the arrival of international forces.
However, the group has delayed the return of the 28 bodies and is resisting disarmament.
The agreement also stipulates that Hamas and other terrorist groups will have no role in the governance of Gaza, and all military infrastructure – tunnels, weapons factories and armaments – must be permanently destroyed.
Meanwhile, on the ground, tensions continue.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces announced that a Palestinian terrorist violated the Yellow Line established by the ceasefire in southern Gaza, approaching troops in a threatening manner.
The individual was immediately neutralized.
The Israeli military command reiterated that it remains on alert to eliminate any immediate risk to soldiers or civilians, as foreseen in the agreement.
Mashaal’s speech makes it clear that, for Hamas, the war is not over – and peace will only be accepted on their own terms: with Israel off the map.
Published in 12/08/2025 06h12
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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