Hamas marks 31st anniversary of Ibrahimi Massacre, vows Resistance
3 Min Read
The 31st anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre, Hamas noted, comes amid escalating Israeli aggression in the West Bank and al-Quds, as well as continued settlement expansion, annexation plans, and incursions.
-
The aftermath of the Ibrahimi mosque massacre in al-Khalil on 25 February 1994 (AFP)
On the 31st anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas reaffirmed its stance against Israeli occupation, declaring that the ongoing aggression "will neither grant legitimacy nor sovereignty over Palestinian land nor break the people’s will to resist."
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hamas recalled the February 25, 1994, attack, in which extremist Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein opened fire on worshippers inside the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil, killing 29 Palestinians and injuring dozens. The Resistance movement accused Israeli security forces of complicity, noting that the massacre occurred in the presence of Israeli occupation soldiers and border police.
The anniversary, Hamas noted, comes amid escalating Israeli aggression in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds, as well as continued settlement expansion, annexation plans, and incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque. The movement described these actions as part of a "systematic policy of aggression" that violates international laws and conventions.
Condemnation of ongoing Israeli actions
Hamas condemned "Israel’s" ongoing campaign of forcible displacement, land occupation, and restrictions on worship in occupied Palestinian territories, vowing that such measures "will not succeed in intimidating the Palestinian people or falsifying historical facts."
The statement further linked the 1994 massacre to the current war on Gaza, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government of committing "systematic and documented war crimes."
Hamas warned that the Israeli leadership poses a broader threat to regional and global stability, criticizing what it described as international silence and inaction in the face of these violations.
"Our people’s memory is alive," Hamas declared. "We will not forget or forgive the massacres and crimes committed against us, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza, now in its fifteenth month."
Calls for international accountability
The movement renewed calls for the International Criminal Court and other legal bodies to prosecute Israeli leaders for what it termed "heinous crimes" against Palestinians. Hamas urged the international community to reject pressure from "Israel’s" allies and ensure accountability for those responsible.
As part of its statement, Hamas called on Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, al-Quds, and the diaspora to remain steadfast, united, and committed to Resistance. Addressing its supporters, the group declared, "You are the rock upon which all the occupation’s schemes will shatter."
A flashback
The attack on the Ibrahimi Mosque took place on February 25, 1994, during the Fajr prayer. Goldstein, an American-born Israeli settler and a member of the extremist Kach movement, opened fire on worshippers as they prayed. Survivors later reported that other settlers assisted him by reloading his weapon.
The massacre led to heightened tensions in al-Khalil, with Israeli authorities subsequently imposing restrictions on Palestinian access to the mosque while increasing settler presence in the city.
