Hamas is distancing itself from statements by one of its leaders on Friday, who called for the slaughter of Jews worldwide.
Speaking at a March of Return rally last Friday, Hamas political bureau official Fathi Hammad urged Palestinians across the globe to "slaughter Jews" if Israel doesn't lift its blockade of the coastal enclave by Friday, July 19, and implement its understandings with the terrorist organization.
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In a statement Monday, the Islamic movement said recent remarks by Fathi Hammad, a member of its politburo, "don't represent the movement's official positions."
Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said Hammad's remarks conflicted with its amended charter that restricted Hamas's conflict to the Israeli occupation, "not the Jews or their religion," according to the rare statement.
The Hamas-operated Al-Aqsa TV station aired Hammad's speech, which was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a nongovernmental organization that monitors the Arab media.
Hammad said Palestinians everywhere should use the "many methods and means" that are "up their sleeves" to "powerfully explode" in Israel's face.
Contrary to what Israel thinks, Hammad said, the Gazans are not rational, and that if they die they will do so honorably while "cutting off the heads of Jews and killing them with explosive belts," which he said Hamas has been actively manufacturing in factories.
Calling on the seven million Palestinians abroad, whom he said have been "warming up" and "preparing," Hammad said: "Enough warming up. … We must attack every Jew on planet Earth and slaughter and kill them."
Hammad, according to MEMRI, also encouraged Palestinians in the West Bank to purchase knives in order to "cut the necks of Jews," saying that knives only cost 5 shekels ($1.40).
"We will die while exploding and cutting the necks and legs of the Jews. We will lacerate them and tear them to pieces, Allah willing!" Hammad said.
