Hamas: Israel has no land to claim ‘capital’

The Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas says Israel has “no land” and naturally no right to designate "a capital” city. The announcement came shortly before US President Donald Trump's expected declaration of the recognition of the occupied al-Quds ('Jerusalem') as Israel’s “capital.”

Hamas Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri tweeted the remark on Wednesday, shortly after Trump reportedly “informed” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of his intention to relocate the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied al-Quds ('Jerusalem').

Trump is expected to declare that the US would recognize al-Quds as Israel’s “capital” in a speech later on Wednesday, in what would most likely be a moment of euphoria for Israeli officials.

But the Palestinians, and the rest of the world, are opposed to such recognition. The Palestinians want Jerusalem al-Quds, which is the site of Islam’s third holiest site, as part of a future Palestinian state.

Zuhri, the Hamas spokesman, added that such recognition “would harm Israel” and ultimately bring it “regret.”

‘Crossing every red line’

On Tuesday, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh warned the United States that the potential relocation of the US embassy would cross “every red line.”

In a statement addressed to world Muslim leaders, Haniya said, “Moving the American embassy to Jerusalem is a dangerous escalation and provides cover for the extremist government of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu to carry out its plan to Judaize the city of Jerusalem.”

In a separate statement, Hamas called for Palestinians to “make Friday a day of rage against the occupation, rejecting moving the American embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing it as the capital of the Zionist entity.” It called on young people in the West Bank to rise up and “respond to the American decision that targets our Jerusalem in every possible way.”