Hamas chief meets Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

Haniyeh’s comments came at a popular meeting held on Friday in Beirut attended by thousands of Palestinian refugees and representatives of Palestinian factions and dignitaries from Palestinian refugee camps and communities.   

“The Israeli occupation has no future on the land of Palestine,” Haniyeh stressed.

Noting that he visited the Shuhada Falestin and Shuhada Sabara and Shatila cemeteries, Haniyeh added that the Israeli occupation will not evade punishment for its crimes as the Palestinian people will never forget the Israeli atrocities committed against them.

 “I was exiled to Marj al-Zohour in southern Lebanon 27 years ago,” Haniyeh continued. “In September 1993, I was honoured to visit the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon accompanied by Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi.”

Outlining the four priorities to handle the next phase facing the Palestinian cause, Haniyeh stressed that not waiving any Palestinian constant, foremost among them in the return of Palestinian refugees to their hometowns and village from which they were expelled during the 1948 Nabka is the first priority.  

As for the second the priority, Haniyeh reiterated the necessity to continue embracing the option of resistance against the Israeli occupation in all forms, above all the armed resistance.

The third priority is to continue exerting strenuous efforts to restore national unity, Haniyeh added, hailing the stances taken by Fatah and all Palestinian factions on this matter.

Regarding the fourth priority, Haniyeh called for cementing the relationship between the Palestinian people and Arab and Muslim worlds.

Citing the harsh living and humanitarian conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Haniyeh declared that his movement will provide $1 million in aid to the Palestinian refugee camps across the country.