“Frequently I have found that when I mention the odious Hamas ‘Charter’ as the best insight into the group’s current goals, the response is that the charter is nearly 25 years old and doesn’t mean much nowadays.

In that context, the words of Hamas’ two top leaders in the past few weeks deserve attention.

On Nov. 26, Mahmoud Zahar (a Hamas co-founder and influential leader) said the following: ;Anyone who wants to liberate Palestine by complaining [to the International Criminal Court] — I will send him handkerchiefs to wipe his tears. Whoever wants to really liberate Palestine should pick up a gun.;

Khaled Mashaal, the top political leader of Hamas, visited Gaza for the first time this weekend. Here are some of his remarks to a mass rally celebrating Hamas’ 25th anniversary:

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