Hamas Threatens Genocide against Israelis and Vows Jihad

The militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has warned that Israelis will be persecuted and slaughtered when it gains more power in the region.

Marking the first anniversary of "Sigil Stone Operation", known as Operation Pillar of Defence, the Palestine-based group issued threats to Israel over its settlement plans and vowed jihad.

Hamas claims victory in the week-long fighting that took place last year in which the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Hamas traded several rockets killing scores of people.

During victory speeches to commemorate the fighting, Hamas leaders have pledged to carry out genocide of "Zionists" once they control the region.

"Zionists, you have no place on the land of Palestine....we shall expel you from our land and will fight against you on it. We will kill you or expel from it when you are submissive ... the jihad and the martyrdom in the way of Allah are our road and our track which are meant to fulfil our triumphs and fulfil and protect our [Islamic] nation," said Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas parliamentarian and a key member of the group.

According to Jonathan Dhoah Halevi's blog post in Alternative Angle, other Hamas leaders who were participating in the anniversary gathering also made similar pledges against Israelis.

"The resistance [Palestine groups] will sooner or later pursue this occupation, and it will pursue it everywhere, and our country will be prohibited to the occupier... the fate of the occupation is disappearance and destruction, and the shortest way for the occupation is to leave out land and flee before the hand of justice and the hand of the struggle of the Palestinian people and the Arab and the Islamic nation reach it," said Abu Ubaidah, spokesperson for the militant wing of Hamas- al-Qassam.

At a separate event to mark the same occasion, Hamas leaders warned Israel that the militant group's latest missiles can reach up to the north of Tel Aviv.