Al Mayadeen – August 2, 2025
Iran marks first anniversary of martyr Ismail Haniyeh's assassination
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Foreign Ministry commemorated the first anniversary of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has commemorated the first anniversary of the assassination of martyr Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, reiterating Iran’s unwavering support for the Palestinian Resistance and sharply denouncing Israeli actions in Gaza and beyon
d.
In a post shared on Saturday, Pezeshkian reflected on the political significance of the killing, which occurred in Tehran during the inauguration ceremony of his presidency, to which Haniyeh had been invited as a state guest.
"One year ago, on the first day of my presidency, our official guest, the freedom-loving brother Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated by the Zionist regime. The war crimes of this regime in Gaza, Iran, and the region are a disgrace to humanity," he wrote.
"We remain steadfast in defending Iran and supporting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. We honor the memory of our martyr guest," he added.
Foreign Ministry: Haniyeh's assassination flagrant breach on international law
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a formal statement marking the occasion. It described Haniyeh, a long-time ally of the late General Qassem Soleimani, as a martyr whose death galvanized the Resistance movement across the region.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran honors the memory of this great martyr and a long-time companion of Martyr General Qasem Soleimani, extending its congratulations and condolences to the Leader of the Revolution, the resilient people of Palestine, the family of Martyr Haniyeh, the Hamas movement, all resistance groups in Palestine and the region, and to all freedom-loving people worldwide," the statement read.
The ministry denounced Haniyeh’s assassination as a flagrant breach of international norms and Iran’s territorial sovereignty.
"The assassination of Martyr Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, while he was an official guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Iranian president, was a grave crime and a blatant violation of international law, national sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran," it declared.
The statement added that Haniyeh’s legacy will live on through the continued struggle for Palestinian liberation.
"The continuous military and political support from the United States and some other Western countries for this regime has turned them into accomplices and partners in the crimes committed, making them liable for international responsibility due to the genocide and war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli regime."
Remembering Martyr Haniyeh
Ismail Haniyeh emerged from the humble surroundings of the alShati refugee camp in Gaza to become a defining symbol of Palestinian resistance.
Born in 1962, he joined Hamas during the First Intifada and was imprisoned by "Israel" several times before rising to prominence as a close aide to Hamas co-founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
After leading Hamas to victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, he served as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority and was effectively its Gaza-based leader from 2006 to 2017.
In May 2017, Haniyeh became chairman of Hamas's Political Bureau, steering the group's external diplomacy from Qatar and engaging in ceasefire negotiations with "Israel", Egypt, and Qatar.
Throughout multiple wars and personal tragedies, including the loss of several sons and grandchildren in Israeli strikes, he stayed resolutely committed to the Palestinian cause, continuing to champion armed resistance and political recognition of Palestinian rights.
Haniyeh’s life, leadership, and legacy represent a steadfast embodiment of Palestinian defiance across political, diplomatic, and military fronts.
Palestinian Information Center – August 2, 2025
Global rallies mark first anniversary of Haniyeh’s assassination
On the first anniversary of the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, cities around the world and the Iranian government have condemned the ongoing genocide in Gaza and called for immediate international action to stop Israel’s crimes.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Saturday recalling the Israeli assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, 2024, calling it a “major crime” and a “flagrant violation” of international law and Iranian sovereignty. The assassination occurred while Haniyeh was attending the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as an official guest.
The statement framed the assassination as part of a broader strategy by Israel to eliminate Palestinian leadership and “exterminate the Palestinian people through colonial violence.”
Iran emphasized that the Palestinian struggle for self-determination is legitimate under international law and called for international efforts to end Israel’s impunity.
“The criminal and terrorist nature of this entity has become clearer than ever,” the ministry said, adding that continued political and military support from the US and other Western powers makes them complicit in the genocide and war crimes taking place in Gaza.
Public outcry echoed across dozens of world capitals, including Baghdad, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Tripoli, Amman, Tunis, and even cities in South Africa and Nigeria.
Demonstrations filled public squares and landmarks, many taking place in front of US embassies. Protesters raised Palestinian flags and photos of Haniyeh while chanting against the prolonged famine and mass killings in Gaza.
The demonstrations were described by organizers as a unified message from the global public, denouncing two years of continuous Israeli attacks and starvation policies in Gaza.
Participants hailed Haniyeh as a symbol of steadfast resistance, commemorating his final words, “We will not recognize Israel”, as a lasting testament to the liberation struggle.
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/08/02/344605/
Palestinian Information Center – August 2, 2025
Ismail Haniyeh: A leader’s life filled with sacrifice
Today marks the first anniversary of the martyrdom of the former head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” and former Palestinian Prime Minister, the great national leader and martyr Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, “Abu Al-Abed,” in a cowardly assassination carried out by Israel in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on July 31, 2024, a day after his participation in the inauguration celebrations of the Iranian President.
Palestinians knew the late leader until his martyrdom as a preacher, a fighter, a resistance figure, a powerful orator, a prominent national leader, a former head of the Palestinian government, and the companion of the founding leader the late Sheikh Ahmad Yassin
.
The first anniversary of Haniyeh’s assassination comes while the “Al-Aqsa Flood” battle and its repercussions continue to cast political and military shadows over the region. This battle marked a major turning point in the regional political and military landscape, according to Hamas’s official website, which recalled his legacy of sacrifice and national stances.
His martyrdom comes amid the ongoing operations of the heroic Palestinian resistance against the Israeli aggression and continuing genocide in Gaza. The valiant resistance warriors, led by the Qassam Brigades of the Hamas Movement, are carrying out a series of blessed operations like “David’s Stones,” destroying Israel’s “Gideon Chariots,” turning the enemy’s alleged victory into a mirage, and engraving epic ambushes of death across the Strip, in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Shuja’iyya, Zeitoun, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, crafting a heroic Palestinian legend titled: “In vain you try; the revolutionary cannot be erased.”
“It is time for our legitimate and inalienable rights to be fulfilled. Our people, who rose on October 7 against bondage and oppression, will not retreat until they complete their path by ending the occupation, culminating in freedom, independence, return, and self-determination, which is the gateway to peace and stability in the region,” affirmed the martyred leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Haniyeh was not an ordinary leader, but an exceptional national figure. He left behind a vast national legacy that will remain etched in the collective memory of the Palestinian people. Through his commanding national presence, he became a unifying icon rarely seen in modern Palestinian history and a continuous source of inspiration for successive Palestinian generations, enshrining his name in the annals of great leaders in the journey toward liberation and freedom from occupation.
Al-Aqsa Flood
During the Al-Aqsa Flood battle, Haniyeh led Hamas with great wisdom and responsibility. He successfully managed the Movement’s political relations and the resistance’s negotiation efforts, reflecting Hamas’s standing, strength, and ability to lead the Palestinian national project.
“The firmness of our political stance matched the legendary resilience of our people and the heroic steadfastness of Gaza,” said the martyred leader.
Known for his political acumen and strong presence in the Palestinian political scene, Haniyeh managed to balance firm adherence to principles and expressing the aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom and independence, and showing flexibility in tactical changes according to strategic interest.
During the Al-Aqsa Flood battle, Haniyeh said, “We are confident that this aggression will be broken and will be driven out from our land, no matter how long it takes, because Hamas and the Qassam Brigades were created to last. And we are certain of Allah’s promise of victory, liberation, and empowerment.”
Early life
Ismail Abdel-Salam Ahmed Haneyya, “Abu Al-Abed,” was born on January 23, 1962, and raised in the Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City after his family was forcibly displaced from the village of Al-Jura near Ashkelon.
He received his basic and secondary education at UNRWA schools and earned his high school diploma from Al-Azhar Institute. He enrolled at the Islamic University of Gaza in 1978, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Arabic literature.
Early political career
Like many figures in Palestinian national and Islamic activism, Haniyeh’s life journey was deeply intertwined with the national struggle. His political activity began early as he emerged as an active member of the student movement at the Islamic University in 1978.
Due to his preaching and political activism, he was first arrested by the Israeli occupation forces in 1987, the same year the First Intifada (Intifada of the Stones) broke out. Through his speeches and public addresses, he inspired a spirit of resistance.
He was arrested again in 1988 and detained for six months. In 1989, he was imprisoned a third time for affiliation with Hamas, serving three years.
On December 17, 1992, the Israeli occupation exiled Haniyeh along with 415 leaders from Hamas and Islamic Jihad to Marj Al-Zuhur in Lebanon, a failed Israeli attempt to cleanse the Palestinian arena of anti-occupation figures. But due to the exiles’ legendary steadfastness, Israel was forced to return them all after a year.
In 1997, he was appointed director of the office of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, becoming his close companion on the path of resistance and jihad in Palestine.
As a Palestinian political figure opposing the occupation, Haniyeh survived numerous assassination attempts. On September 6, 2003, he survived a failed assassination alongside Sheikh Ahmad Yassin.
He witnessed the start of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000 and considered the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from Gaza a direct result of that uprising.
2006 elections
The Palestinian legislative elections on January 25, 2006, marked a turning point in both Palestinian political history and Haniyeh’s career. The Central Elections Commission announced a sweeping Hamas victory, securing 76 of the 132 seats in the Legislative Council.
Haniyeh led the Change and Reform list, which won the majority. He announced that Hamas would immediately begin dialogue with Fatah and other factions to form a unity government, but Fatah rejected this. As a result, Hamas formed its own government, headed by martyr Ismail Haniyeh as Prime Minister. This led to several political milestones, culminating in his stepping down during the 2014 Shati Camp Agreement to strengthen Palestinian unity.
Capture of Shalit
Six months after the elections, on June 25, 2006, Qassam Brigades and other factions captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from his tank in a daring operation, “Shattered Illusion.” On October 18, 2011, they secured the release of 1,047 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit.
Haniyeh, then Prime Minister, said the operation and the subsequent prisoner exchange were proof that Hamas could both govern and resist, “One hand builds, the other resists.”
Wars on Gaza
Haniyeh led Hamas through difficult phases, including repeated assaults and the blockade on Gaza. Despite challenges, he elevated Hamas’s political standing and built open political relations with various Arab, Islamic, and international actors.
During the 2008 Gaza War (dubbed “Operation Cast Lead” by Israel), Haniyeh emphasized its importance in the road to Jerusalem and Palestinian liberation.
In the 2012 Pillar of Defense conflict, he declared it a new phase of the struggle, saying: “We wrote this phase with blood, martyrdom, and unity.”
During the 2014 war (“Operation Protective Edge”), he said, “The blood spilled in the Battle of Al-Furqan paved the way for future victories, culminating in the ‘Sword of Jerusalem’ battle.”
In the 2021 Sword of Jerusalem Battle, launched in defense of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, Haniyeh said it opened new horizons and shattered defeatist narratives. “Jerusalem is the core of the conflict; the battle began at Al-Aqsa, and out blood will lead the way along the path to Jerusalem,” he said.
Despite Israel’s repeated wars to eliminate the Palestinian resistance, all objectives collapsed in the face of the legendary resilience of our people, the Hamas leader affirmed.
Leadership of Hamas
On May 6, 2017, Haniyeh was elected head of Hamas’s political bureau, succeeding Khaled Mishaal, one week after Hamas released its document of principles and general policies. Mishaal said that Hamas had presented a model for smooth leadership transition.
In August 2021, Haniyeh was re-elected for another four-year term. Despite immense internal and external challenges, he successfully strengthened Hamas’s position and expanded political relations across various Arab, Islamic, and international actors.
Immortal words
Haniyeh was known for his stirring phrases that will remain etched in Palestinian memory:
“There is no future for the occupation on Palestinian land.”
“Hamas will accept nothing less than all of Palestine.”
“We will not recognize, we will not recognize, we will not recognize Israel.”
“We will not abandon resistance.”
“To the enemy, we say: We will not forget and we will not forgive.”
These words will remain a source of hope, resistance, and pride for millions of Palestinians and Arabs, igniting the spirit of jihad and struggle in their hearts.
He constantly affirmed Palestinian principles, protected the resistance project, refused to concede any part of Palestine, and championed national unity.
National unity
Haniyeh devoted his long struggle to achieving Palestinian unity. He worked to overcome obstacles in reconciliation efforts. During the 2014 Shati Agreement, he stepped down as Prime Minister to facilitate the formation of a unity government led by Dr. Rami Hamdallah, in a selfless national act.
He emphasized that reconciliation was aimed at unifying Palestinians against the occupation, “Today I voluntarily hand over the government to ensure the success of national unity and resistance in all its forms.”
Under his leadership, Hamas showed great flexibility and made major concessions for national unity, always reiterating, “There is no state in Gaza, and no state without Gaza.”
In a fatherly and patriotic gesture, he visited Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon in September 2020, receiving a warm public welcome. He reaffirmed that one of Hamas’s top priorities was achieving unity and staying close to the Palestinian people everywhere.
Martyrdom of his children
On April 10, 2024, during the Al-Aqsa Flood battle, three of Haneyya’s sons were martyred while traveling with five of their children for Eid family visits. His granddaughter was killed in a strike on a school sheltering displaced civilians, and his eldest grandson was martyred in a separate strike on his home, among over 60 martyrs from Haneyya’s family.
Martyrdom
At dawn Wednesday, July 31, 2024, Hamas announced the martyrdom of the great leader and martyr of the nation, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran following a treacherous, cowardly assassination by the rogue Israeli entity, in violation of all laws, norms, and conventions. The act further confirmed the enemy’s fascism and criminality against the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nations.
Hamas stated in its official announcement, “The great mujahid leader and national symbol Abu Al-Abed has joined the ranks of the martyred giants, foremost among them the founding Imam Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, attaining the supreme goal he always longed for in the greatest of heroic battles: the Al-Aqsa Flood, for Palestine and for Al-Aqsa.”
Haniyeh’s message
“To all countries, including our Arab brothers: this entity cannot protect itself from these fighters. It cannot offer you security or protection. All normalization and recognition of this entity will never resolve this conflict.”
“A Movement whose leaders and founders become martyrs for the dignity of our people and our nation will never be defeated. These assassinations will only increase our strength, resilience, and unwavering determination.”
To his people, Haniyeh proclaimed, “We will not forgive this criminal enemy for this historic injustice. We will not forget our land. We will not forget our principles. Go forth and do not hesitate.”
Your people will walk your path, sir, the path of freedom and liberation from occupation, holding firm to national principles, and carrying their weapons until the full liberation of Palestinian soil.
https://english.palinfo.com/reports/2025/07/31/344487/
Ismail Haniyeh's journey of Resistance: From exile to martyrdom
Providing an exemplary model of Resistance, from student activism to heading Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh is martyred and joins the list of leaders who sacrificed everything for Palestine.
The Hamas Resistance movement mourned on Wednesday the martyrdom of the head of its political bureau and leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in a "treacherous Zionist strike" and assassination targeting his place of residence in Tehran, Iran. Haniyeh was in the country participating in the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Iranian president.
Ismail Haniyeh was born in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, on May 23, 1963, after his parents were displaced from Asqalan during the 1948 Nakba.
He received his degree in Arabic Literature in 1987 from the Islamic University, then earned his doctorate from his alma mater in 2009.
Political activism
Haniyeh's political activism began within the Islamic Bloc, the student branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Gaza Strip, from which the Hamas Resistance movement was born.
He was a member of his university's student council between 1983 and 1984, then acted as its president the following year.
In 1989, Ismail Haniyeh was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) for three years, then was exiled to the town of Marj al-Zuhur by the Lebanese-Palestinian border, alongside a group of Hamas leaders.
Following a year in exile, Haniyeh returned to Gaza and was appointed as the dean of the Islamic University.
In 1997, he was appointed as the head of the bureau of Hamas founder, Sheikh Ahmad Yassine, following his release from Israeli detention. He was later voted as the leader of the movement in Gaza, following the martyrdom of its previous leader, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Rantisi, in 2004.
In December 2005, he headed the "Change and Reform" list, which won the second legislative Palestinian elections in 2006, with a majority vote. Shortly after, on February 16, 2006, he was nominated to take over the position of prime minister in Palestine and was officially instated on the 20th of the same month.
In May 2017, he succeeded Khaled Mashal to be the head of Hamas' Political Bureau.
Ismail Haniyeh has been a target of multiple political assassination attempts, the latest being in 2003, when the Israeli occupation launched an airstrike against a group of Resistance leaders following a martyrdom operation carried out by al-Qassam Brigades.
Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
When Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, a cheerful Haniyeh appeared in a broadcast video, alongside several of the movement's leaders, from his Doha office. He had been following reports of the fighters of the Martyr Izz al-Din al-Qassam, the military wing of Hamas, seizing Israeli military vehicles, before leading a prayer to "thank God for this victory."
On April 10, six of Haniyeh's family members, including three of his sons and a number of his grandchildren, were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting their car, after they had taken it to drive around the al-Shati refugee camp and celebrate with its residents in the spirit of Eid al-Fitr.
On June 24, 10 of his family members, including his sister, were killed in an Israeli attack that deliberately targeted their home in al-Shati refugee camp.
Amid their martyrdom, Haniyeh said, "Nearly 60 of my family members rest as martyrs, like the children of Palestine, they are no different," adding that the occupation thinks targeting the sons of Resistance leaders would break the will of the people of Palestine.
'We declare victory'
"My sons' and grandchildren's blood is not more precious than the Palestinian people's children's," Haniyeh said when his family members were murdered by "Israel", thanking God for the "honor" he was generously awarded, upon their martyrdom.
In a speech he gave in 2014, blasting the ongoing siege on the Gaza Strip, the martyred leader said, "We are a people who declare victory should you declare a siege upon us. If you wish to break the will of Gaza and its people, then [know that] we only kneel before God. Every decision-maker, inside and outside Palestine, should grasp the message of our people: We are a people that cherish death the way our enemies cherish life, we cherish martyrdom on the path of our leaders the way others cherish political offices. Take all the offices you wish and give us our nation."
Dozens martyred amid Israeli attacks on Gaza, including aid seekers
"Israel" continues its deadly assaults on Gaza, killing aid seekers, women, and displaced civilians amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and ongoing siege.
At dawn, at least 12 Palestinians were martyred while waiting for humanitarian aid at the Netzarim axis, as Israeli forces opened fire and shelled multiple locations across the Gaza Strip. Among the victims were three women, highlighting the persistent targeting of civilians during aid distributions.
In al-Zawaida, central Gaza, a Palestinian man, his wife, and their three children were martyred following an Israeli airstrike that destroyed their home. The attack is part of a broader campaign by ﾠ"Israel" that continues to strike residential areasﾠacross the besieged territory.
Also, three Palestinians were martyred and others wounded when an Israeli drone dropped an explosive on tents sheltering displaced persons near the industrial junction north of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. In a separate attack northwest of the city, two women were killed when Israeli forces shelled a tent housing displaced Palestinians.
The attacks are part of what human rights groups describe as the systematic and ongoing massacre in the Gaza Strip. "Israel" continues to target civilians, including displaced families and aid seekers, in direct violation of international humanitarian law.
The comprehensive siege on Gaza has further intensified the humanitarian crisis. With limited access to food, medicine, and clean water, fatalities from hunger and malnutrition are rising daily. Entire communities are being left to suffer under a deliberate policy of starvation and displacement.
Dozens of Palestinians killed in Gaza as IOF resume onslaught
As the brutal Israeli onslaught continues with no restraint, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in the Gaza Strip reported at dawn Saturday that 71 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli fire, including 38 aid seekers.
In central Gaza, one person was martyred and others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a home in the Yarmouk area of the al-Daraj neighborhood. Additionally, two martyrs, killed while waiting for aid at a distribution site in the Netzarim corridor, were brought to al-Shifa Hospital.
Another martyr's body was recovered from under the rubble of a destroyed home in the al-Atatra area, west of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.
In this context, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that 1,373 Palestinians have been martyred while waiting for aid in Gaza since late May, noting that 859 of them were killed in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, and 514 along food convoy routes.
On Friday alone, 11 more Palestinians were killed, including two near a GHF distribution point, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. The killings follow a well-documented pattern of Israeli soldiers firing on civilians congregating around GHF trucks and aid convoys.
Only 73 aid trucks entered Gaza on Friday
In a report released by the Gaza Government Media Office on Saturday, it was stated that only 73 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip, most of which were looted due to the security chaos systematically and deliberately engineered by the Israeli occupation as part of its so-called policy of "engineering chaos and starvation."
The statement reads, "We stress that the actual daily needs of the Gaza Strip require no less than 600 trucks of aid and fuel to meet the minimum standards for health, service, and food sectors, especially amid the complete collapse of infrastructure caused by the ongoing genocide."
Additionally, the statement expresses strong condemnation against the "continued crime of starvation, the closure of crossings, and the prevention of humanitarian aid from entering. We hold the Israeli occupation and the state complicit in this genocide fully responsible for the worsening humanitarian catastrophe. We call for the immediate opening of all crossings and the urgent entry of adequate food supplies and infant formula."
Also on Friday, the Gaza Tribal Gathering confirmed that the humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip "has not benefited any of the residents" and has been "stolen by the enemy."
In a press conference, tribal representatives rejected on Friday any cooperation with Israeli-US aid distribution centers, stating, “They provide us with aid soaked in blood, and we refuse to deal with them.”
The tribes appealed to the international community and the US envoy to witness firsthand the tragic conditions in Gaza. “Nearly 90 Palestinians are martyred every day. Will this satisfy the free world?” the gathering asked.
Palestinian Information Center – August 2, 2025
Arab marches demand an end to Israeli starvation in Gaza
Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Morocco, Mauritania, and Yemen took part in rallies and marches on Friday in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, calling for the entry of humanitarian aid and an end to Israel’s ongoing starvation campaign against the enclave.
The Moroccan Commission for the Support of the Nation’s Causes stated in a press release that it had organized 90 protests across 58 cities on Friday in solidarity with Gaza and Palestine, as part of the 87th “Al-Aqsa Flood Friday.”
Among the cities that witnessed these rallies and marches were Taza and Oujda (east), El Jadida and Casablanca (west), and Agadir (southwest), particularly after Friday prayers and at other times throughout the day.
Participants raised Palestinian flags alongside images depicting the effects of Israel’s starvation policy against Palestinians in Gaza. Protesters chanted slogans supporting the Palestinian cause and called for continued backing.
In Mauritania, hundreds protested in the capital Nouakchott on Friday, rejecting Israel’s ongoing starvation and genocide war against Gaza and demanding an end to the aggression against Palestinians.
The demonstrations began after Friday prayers in front of the Grand Mosque in Nouakchott, where participants held Palestinian and Mauritanian flags and chanted in support of resistance in Gaza.
The protests were called for by the Student Initiative Against Zionist Penetration and for the Defense of Just Causes, a non-governmental organization that organizes events in support of the Palestinian people.
In Yemen, tens of thousands demonstrated across several governorates in support of Gaza, particularly in Al-Sabeen Square in the capital Sana’a, with protests extending to provinces including Al-Hodeida (west), Saada (north), and Ibb (central).
Protesters waved Yemeni and Palestinian flags and carried banners affirming their unwavering solidarity with Gaza.
Since the start of the genocide on October 7, 2023, Israel has simultaneously committed a crime of starvation against the Palestinians in Gaza. On March 2, 2025, it escalated these measures by closing all crossings to humanitarian, relief, and medical aid, leading to a widespread famine with catastrophic indicators.
The genocide, carried out by Israel with US support, has left around 208,000 Palestinians dead or injured, most of them women and children, with more than 10,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands displaced and a famine that has claimed many lives.
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/08/02/344602/
Seattle Times – August 1, 2025
Arab states call for Hamas to disarm amid push for a Palestinian state
By Farnaz Fassihi and Ephrat Livni
The world’s Arab countries for the first time have joined unanimously in the call for Hamas to lay down its weapons, release all hostages and end its rule of the Gaza Strip, conditions that they said could help the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The surprise declaration, endorsed Tuesday (July 29) by the 22 member nations of the Arab League, also condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, which set off the devastating war in Gaza. The statement came at a United Nations conference in New York on a two-state solution to end the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objectives of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state,” said the declaration. It was also signed by all 27 European Union states and 17 other countries.
The declaration called for the deployment of “a temporary international stabilization mission,” invited by the Palestinian Authority, which administers part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and “under the aegis of the United Nations.”
Many Arab leaders have working relations with Hamas and rule over populations that are deeply committed to the Palestinian cause. That has made them reluctant to break publicly with the group and to normalize relations with Israel, despite pressure from Western allies like the United States. Qatar hosts Hamas’ political office and some of its political leaders, and has acted as a mediator between the group and both Israel and the United States.
It remains unclear whether Hamas would heed the call of the Arab League. Hamas has so far demonstrated no willingness to voluntarily surrender its weapons or give up control over Gaza. Its initial response to the declaration was mixed but did not suggest a significant shift.
“Any effort made at the international level to support our Palestinian people and their legitimate rights is appreciated and welcomed,” the group said in a statement on Thursday demanding “unconditional international recognition” of an independent Palestinian state.
The Hamas statement did not directly respond to the call to disarm. “The Palestinian situation is an internal affair of our people,” it said.
Hamas called for reforms of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which represents Palestinians internationally and is led by the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas. It also demanded presidential, legislative and other elections “based on national and democratic foundations without any preconditions.”
Conference on Palestine
At the United Nations, the high-level conference on a two-state solution, cosponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, unfolded as reports of starvation in Gaza continued to arrive. Images of small children and babies dying of hunger have set off global outrage against Israel for preventing humanitarian aid from entering the territory at the scale needed to avert severe food shortages.
The conference, which started Monday and ended Wednesday, drew widespread support. Representative of 125 U.N. member states took part, delivering speeches in support of a Palestinian state and urging Israel to commit to a two-state solution.
Analysts said that while many challenges remained — first and foremost the lack of support from Washington — the attempt to resurrect the idea of a Palestinian state was notable.
“Any effort to return international focus to the two-state solution is laudable, especially after almost two years of war and suffering between Israelis and Palestinians,” Max Rodenbeck, Israel-Palestine director at the International Crisis Group, said in a statement before the conference. “However, rhetorical support needs to be matched by practical steps, as the practical possibility for creating a Palestinian state on the ground has been ebbing for years, and under the current Israeli government faces stubborn hostility.”
