WE register our support for Hamas and other Palestinian factions' attacks on Israel in the occupied territories of Palestine.
Israel's response, that it is at war with Hamas, is nothing new. Israel is never at peace with Palestine since its occupation and has provoked war against Palestinians since day one of Israel's existence.
The unprecedented ability of Palestinian fighters to launch such an unexpected attack is a signal that the Zionist Israel is a vulnerable occupier.
The Tawafan Operation (Al Aqsa Flood Operation) launched by Hamas with the fighters of Al Qassam, Islamic Jihad, Al Quds and Jenin battalion is a retaliation for the decades of Zionist military occupation and settlement colonialism on Palestinian land.
The sheer ability to infiltrate Israel, with its round-the-clock security, should open the eyes of Israel to the fact that it is not invincible.
Hamas has shamed Israel despite the latter being perceived as having the most sophisticated intelligence network.
The abandonment of many Arab nations to the Palestinian struggle has not demotivated the resistance.
Instead, the resistance movement has produced new leadership that has become more determined and creative in facing Israel's sophisticated weaponry.
Israel's atrocities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, plus the global search to assassinate Palestinian resistance movement leaders, compelled the resistance to launch a counterattack.
This operation is a courageous retaliation to turn around the status quo that has seen Israel as more victorious in many confrontations.
Israel has inflicted horrific sufferings on Muslim and Christian Palestinians in the occupied land for more than seven decades.
This counterattack has sent a strong message that Israel normalising ties with some Arab nations will never be accepted by Palestinians.
This year has seen the highest number of violent incidents and intrusions on the Al Aqsa Mosque.
This has given Hamas more resolve to end the occupation, attacks and incursions on the mosque, insults and humiliations, barbaric attacks, demolition and confiscation of land, seizure of Gaza, unjust treatment by the apartheid regime, arbitrary detentions and murders, torture of detainees and expansion of settlements.
These crimes against humanity and violation of international laws have worsened and escalated.
Anyone would be compelled to launch a resistance in such a reality. Hamas and other Palestinian factions have a legitimate reason to strike back.
The ability of the resistance movement to take over the crossing into Israeli territory and capturing Israeli soldiers and civilians is evidence of the determination of the resistance movement to respond to the Zionist occupation in a planned and determined manner.
These attacks show that Palestinians fighters have not given up on their desire to recapture their land. Their ability should not be underestimated.
Thus, we register our solidarity with the resistance movement and call on Muslims and Muslim leaders worldwide to support the struggle to free Palestine.
It has been more than seven decades of atrocities by Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinians. An effective response by the international community is not forthcoming.
Since the Oslo Accords of 1993, the abuse by the occupier has worsened. The resistance movement is the only formidable force to challenge the Zionist forces.
We render our full support to the goal of the Tawafan Operation to protect the Al Aqsa Mosque. Muslims must respond to the continuous efforts by the Zionists to desecrate the mosque.
We call on Muslims and Christians to join forces to free Al Aqsa and other holy sites.
We also call on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to convene an emergency meeting to issue a solidarity note to Palestinian fighters.
MOHD AZMI ABDUL HAMID
President, Mapim
DATUK SERI SYEKH AHMAD AWANG
Chairman, Alliance of World Masaajid in Defence of Al Aqsa
DATUK SYEKH ABDUL GHANI SAMSUDIN
Chairman, Secretariat for Ulama Assembly of Asia
SYED SYEKH ATTAS
Secretary-general, Secretariat Palestine of Malaysia