Hamas celebrates its 38th anniversary, calls Tel Aviv attack 'towering milestone'

Hamas celebrated its 38th anniversary, calling its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Tel Aviv a "towering milestone."

“Al-Aqsa Flood was a towering milestone in our people’s march toward freedom and independence, and it will remain a firmly established landmark marking a true beginning for repelling the occupation and ending its presence on our land,” Hamas said Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The terrorist organization said it would pursue its goals “regardless of the sacrifices” while claiming that Israel had failed to achieve its war objectives.

“We stand with pride and honor before the steadfastness, bravery, sacrifices, and resilience of our great people in all arenas, foremost among them our people in Gaza, the land of dignity, defiance, and loftiness, who struggled, persevered, and stood guard in defense of the land and holy sites on behalf of the entire nation,” the statement added.

Hamas also called on the U.S. and mediators to enforce a ceasefire framework, open border crossings, and accelerate humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The group rejected any external “guardianship” over Gaza or other Palestinian territories, saying that Palestinians alone should decide governance. Hamas also said the release of Palestinian prisoners was a top priority and urged the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to continue their proceedings regarding Israel's war in Gaza.

The terrorist organization added that Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount are still the core of Hamas’s conflict with Israel and will “remain purely Islamic.”

Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, was established in 1987. Its charter states that the group's purpose is to liberate Palestine from Israel so it can establish an Islamic state. The organization refuses to acknowledge Israel and seeks to take all Israeli territory from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River.