‘Covenant for Jerusalem’: What Meshaal Said about Resistance, Hamas’ Priorities

Khaled Meshaal outlined Hamas’ strategic roadmap in Istanbul, emphasizing the liberation of Jerusalem, rejection of foreign control, and urgent Palestinian unity.

Khaled Meshaal, the head of the Hamas Movement abroad, delivered an address at the “Covenant for Jerusalem” conference in Istanbul on December 6, 2025, setting out the movement’s strategic roadmap.

His speech centered on the liberation of Jerusalem, the rejection of external control, and the urgent need for unified Palestinian action. The following are the main points from his declaration.

Commitment to the Liberation of Jerusalem

Meshaal explicitly declared that the time has arrived for the Muslim nation to commit to the liberation of Jerusalem. He defined this act as the symbolic and strategic key to liberating all of Palestine.

This mandate, he specified, includes the purification of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the restoration of all Christian and Islamic holy sites, positioning it as the essential, historic project for the entire region.

Protecting the Arms of Resistance

A core tenet of the Hamas vision is the absolute protection of the resistance movement and its weapons.

 

Meshaal asserted this as the undeniable right of the Palestinian people to self-defense. He stated that genuine peace is forged only by strength, contending that rights are not secured through the UN Security Council, but through the resolve of the resistance.

Rejection of External Rule or Guardianship

Meshaal firmly rejected all forms of custodianship, mandate, or re-occupation over Gaza, the West Bank, and all of Palestine.

He maintained that the Palestinian people are the sole authority for their governance and future. He stressed that the nation seeks independence and self-determination, not protection or control from any external party.

The Necessity of Palestinian Unity

The Hamas leader issued an appeal for immediate and genuine Palestinian national unity, both internally and across the diaspora.

He emphasized that “No victory without unity, and no achievement without partnership,” and cautioned against any faction attempting to monopolize political decision-making.

He stressed that a shared destiny requires absolute cooperation to strengthen collective power.

 

Gaza’s Recovery and Ending the Siege

Meshaal demanded an intense mobilization of resources to address the genocide in Gaza. This involves two critical actions: guaranteeing a complete, permanent cessation of the war, and the subsequent restoration of life through relief, reconstruction, and medical care.

He critically demanded the breaking of the ongoing siege and the permanent opening of all crossings, condemning and rejecting any attempts at forced displacement or the “re-engineering” of the Strip according to Israeli terms.

Further Strategic Priorities

Defending the West Bank:

He called for a concentrated effort to defend the occupied West Bank against the aggressive expansion of settlements, Judaization, and expulsion efforts, while also extending protection to Palestinians in the territories occupied in 1948.

International Prosecution:

Meshaal urged an intensified campaign for the global legal, political, and economic prosecution and isolation of the Israeli state and its leaders, arguing that the current international climate warrants treating Israel as an entity responsible for genocide.

Rejecting Normalization:

He demanded that Arab and Islamic nations adopt a firm strategy against Israeli actions, explicitly calling for the rejection of all forms of normalization or relationship with Israel, which he characterized as a universal threat.

 

Who is Khaled Meshaal?

Khaled Meshaal is a Palestinian political leader and former chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau.

In 1997, the Israeli Mossad, acting under orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate him by poisoning him in Amman, Jordan. He continues to reinforce his role as a long-standing figure in the Hamas movement.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

“Reprinted from…” ‘Covenant for Jerusalem’: What Meshaal Said about Resistance, Hamas’ Priorities – Palestine Chronicle