December 14, 1987
First Communique of Hamas
 
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful:
	O you who believe, endure, outdo all others in endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to God, in order that you may succeed.

Our steadfast Muslim masses:
Today, you have a date with God's powerful decree against the Jews and their helpers.  Nay, you are an integral part of this decree that, God willing, ultimately shall uproot them.

Indeed, during one week, hundreds of wounded and tens of martyrs offered their lives in the parth of God to uphold their nation's glory and honor, to restore our rights in our homeland, and to elevate God's banner in the land.  This is a true expression of the spirit of sacrifice and redemption that characterizes our people.  This spirit has robbed the Zionists of their sleep and rocked their foundations, even as it proved to the whole world that a people that welcomes death shall never die.

Let the Jews understand that despite the chains, prisons, and detention centers, despite the suffering of our people under their criminal occupation, despite the blood and tears,  our people's perseverance and steadfastness shall overcome their oppression and arrogance.  Let them know that their policy of violence shall beget naught but a more powerful counter policy by our sons and youths who love the eternal life in heaven more than our enemies love this life.

The intifada of our vigilant people in the Occupied Territories comes as a resounding rejection of the occupation and its pressures, land confiscation and the planting of settlements, and the policy of subjugation by the Zionists.  It also comes to awaken the consciences of those among us who are gasping after a sick peace, after empty international conferences, after treasonous partial settlements like Camp David.  The intifada is here to convince them that Islam is the solution and the alternative.

Let the reckless settlers beware: Our people know the way of sacrifice and martyrdom and are generous in this regard; their military and settlement policies shall avail them nothing; and all their attempts at dissolving and exterminating our people shall crumble despite their bullets, agents, and infamy.

Let them understand that violence breeds nothing but violence and that death bestows but death.  How true is the adage: "I am drowning, why would I fear being wet?"

Lift your hands off our people, our cities, our refugee camps, and our villages.  Our battle with you is a battle of belief, of existence, of destiny.

Let the world know that the Jews are committing Nazi crimes against our people and that they will drink from the same cup.

"And you shall know its news after a time."

(Signed) The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)