I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.

O Allah, confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.

Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Allah (the Almighty) says in the Holy Quran, {'Among the believers are men who have proven true to what they pledged to Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their pledge [with their lives],while others are waiting [their turn]. They have never changed [their commitment] in the least'}[Al-Ahzab 33:23]. This is the word of truth from Almighty Allah.

Yesterday, Hezbollah mourned the loss of its Executive Council Chairman, the great mujahid and martyr scholar Al-Sayyid Hashem Safieddine (May Allah be pleased with him). He was one of the party's leaders and played a significant, effective, and influential role in Hezbollah, especially within his significant responsibility of leading the Executive Council and its divisions, as well as its various practical activities. His contribution in the field of jihad was distinguished due to his deep faith, awareness, insight, knowledge, noble character, and fervent jihadist spirit, as well as his great resolve, high determination, and constant presence in the fields of action for the sake of Allah with tireless energy and vigour. For the sake of Al-Quds, he and some of his fellow mujahidin attained martyrdom in the cause of Almighty Allah (May Allah be pleased with them).

In this context, we extend our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathies to his noble family, Hezbollah, the people of resistance and jihad, the Lebanese people, and the entire Islamic Ummah. We also offer our condolences to the families of those who were martyred with him. We ask Allah to magnify their reward, grant them patience, bestow tranquillity upon them, and support them with victory. Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return. There is no power nor strength except that granted by Allah, the Almighty.

Through targeting mujahid leaders, the criminal Zionist Israeli enemy aims to break the morale of their Ummah, their fellow mujahidin, and their popular base of support, in addition to eliminating them, satisfying its animosity towards them, and putting an end to their active and influential role in reality. This is evident in the statements and attitudes of the enemies, as has occurred in both Palestine and Lebanon.

The Israeli enemy neither learns from history, even recent contemporary history, nor from the present as the battle is at its peak. The Israeli enemy's malevolence has made it blind. Moreover, the hopes that it pursues, although Allah continues to dash its hopes, drive it to persist in its criminal and aggressive path of targeting leaders.

The loss of jihad leaders, especially in critical circumstances, is painful for the mujahidin, the believers, the entire Ummah, and all the free people of the world. We grieve for them and feel deep sorrow for losing them. Their loss in such critical, decisive, important circumstances is undoubtedly significant for the Ummah. However, what the enemy hopes for and strives to achieve (that this will help it reach its goals of controlling the Ummah, ending the battle, and making the people of jihad and resistance abandon their flag and instead raise the white flag) are delusional and futile hopes. This is because the path of faith and jihad for the sake of Allah has a very important merit.

In this important merit of the journey of faith and jihad for those who move in the path of Allah from a faith and jihad perspective as they believe in Allah (the Almighty), His Book, His messengers, His prophets, His guidance and teachings and believe in their just cause, rightful position, and wise and necessary choice that has no alternative—one of the important merits of setting forth based on these important foundations is that those people who move accordingly enjoy the care of Allah (Glory be to Him).

The sacrifices of the martyr leaders are offerings to Allah (Glory be to Him). He (the Almighty) is the One who grants them victory and who accepts their efforts, struggle, generosity, and contributions in this life, which include all effort and struggle they endured for the sake of supporting the truth, the rightful position, and the just cause, in the cause of Allah, and as a means to draw closer to Him. Allah accepts their striving and great effort, which are tied to sacred objectives and legitimate goals that are outlined by Allah and which He has directed His believing servants to pursue and work towards. Indeed, Allah accepts their efforts, work, and striving. Through their sacrifices they attain His acceptance when they gave their lives and souls in His cause, presenting their lives for His sake. He accepts all of that from them. Additionally, He makes that striving, that effort, that work, and that sacrifice result in a profound impact in reality, blessing their effects and results so as to achieve the same sacred objectives they worked to fulfil for the sake of His pleasure, the Almighty. Thus, their great efforts and their great, righteous deeds will never go to waste, nor will their sacrifices. That is because Allah (Glory be to Him) is the One Who watches over their efforts and blesses their impact in reality itself so that it bears great fruit and leaves a significant mark, fulfilling their hopes and receiving their efforts with appreciation. At the same time, He grants them victory after they were oppressed. In fact, they are martyrs, and every martyr is oppressed. Allah (Glory be to Him) has said in the Holy Quran, {'We certainly grant victory to Our messengers and the believers, [both] in this worldly life and on the day the witnesses will stand forth [for testimony], the day the wrongdoers’ excuses will be of no benefit to them. They will be condemned and will have the worst outcome'}[Ghafir 40:51-52]. Indeed, Allah has promised to grant victory to His messengers and also to those who believe: a victory in this worldly life for their cause, position, and path and also a victory in the Hereafter, which is the great immense eternal victory, where Allah will judge between His servants with a final judgment that determines their eternal future.

Then, the faith-based orientation of the believers, as a march and as a people moving in the path of Allah, grants them a spiritual connection with Allah (Glory be to Him) and makes them trust Him and rely on Him, even in the most challenging circumstances and difficult stages. This is one of the important merits that make the structure of the striving people strong, cohesive, and resilient, capable of withstanding whatever hardships, challenges, and events may arise. Allah (Glory be to Him) supports the striving people even when they provide martyrs from among their great figures, leaders, and righteous individuals, allowing them to continue their journey under His great care. {'It is He Who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers'}[Al-Fath 48:4]. He bestows tranquillity upon them and strengthens their hearts: {'And We strengthened their hearts when they stood up'}[Al-Kahf 18:14], as in the story of the People of the Cave. Moreover, He grants assistance, support, and guidance and inspires wisdom and sound judgment for the striving people so that they can continue their journey.

This is clearly evident in the reality of the believers, regardless of the sorrow or the extent of their oppression. That is to the extent that the grief and sorrow they feel over the death of leaders and righteous people (along with the significant injustice against them, the remembrance of their efforts and contributions, and the state of loyalty to them) become a factor of resilience, steadfastness, cohesion, and dedication. They serve as role models even in their devotion and bravery. Indeed, this is evident in the position of our fellow mujahidin in Lebanon, whose steadfastness and cohesion have greatly astonished the enemies and even those watchers with evil intentions who believed that the weight of such strikes would cause their collapse. The same holds true for our fellow mujahidin in the Gaza Strip. Despite providing all the martyrs among their leaders and righteous individuals, their steadfastness, resilience, and cohesion have astonished and surprised the enemies and those who were watching with evil intentions. Therefore, Allah (Glory be to Him) speaks of the believers walking in the path of the prophets, the chosen ones, and supporters of the prophets, saying, {'And they did not waver regardless of that which afflicted them in the way of Allah'}—no matter the magnitude of what befalls them. {'And they did not waver regardless of that which afflicted them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they give in. And Allah loves the patient ones'}[Ali 'Imran 3:146].

In our Islamic history, during the Battle of Uhud, a rumour spread at a time when the battle was at its peak and most intense and amid a setback in the reality of the Muslims—that was the result of a disruption in the battle arrangements that the Prophet (PBUH&F) had organised and prepared before the battle began. The archers failed to follow the instructions, which resulted in a setback in the reality of the Muslims. At that time, a rumour about the death of the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (PBUH&F) spread and caused significant turmoil among the ranks of the Muslims, which had a negative impact on some who were present in the battle. Subsequently, Allah (the Almighty) sent down a revelation stating, {'Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all, but Allah will reward the grateful'}[Ali 'Imran 3:144].

Allah (Glory be to Him) has provided a profound lesson involving the greatest leader of humanity, the Master of the Messengers and the Seal of the Prophets: The loss of such a figure through martyrdom or death should not affect the spirits of his followers and the Muslims standing with him. It should not lead to a retreat in their position, a weakness in their determination, or a decline in performance during the confrontation and battle. Allah reminded them, saying, {'[Other] messengers have passed on before him.'} This means that he too would experience what they experienced; one day, he must depart this world. This is the fate of all humanity: Everyone will leave this life, both believers and disbelievers, the righteous and the corrupt. The journey of all humanity is marked by this inevitable departure; every generation must eventually leave this life.

The relationship with the leaders in the march of faith and jihad for the sake of Allah is a relationship within the framework of that faith-based path and position through attachment to Allah, the Almighty. Therefore, it is not merely a personal relationship so that everything would end upon losing them. It is a relationship tied to that sacred position and in the context of that jihadist and faith-based responsibility. Therefore, one should be attached to Allah (Glory be to Him). Everyone should direct themselves towards Allah, striving in His path. So if a leader is martyred, it should not affect the morale of his companions, who shared with him a mutual journey that leads them to Allah and His pleasure. That is because Allah is the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, Who provides them with His care. In addition, their goal is linked to Him, and their aim is to gain His pleasure. Therefore, it is essential to continue and persist in striving for the sake of Allah (Glory be to Him) with no retreat, no weakening of will, and no room for faint-heartedness, regardless of the events. Turning towards Allah (the Almighty) and having a faith-based connection with Him provides the believer with aid from Allah, bringing tranquillity, strengthening the hearts, and offering assistance.

This awareness and faith are what has resulted in resilience and cohesion in the journey of faith and jihad in both Palestine and Lebanon. This great cohesion has astonished the enemies, dashed their hopes, and even angered their proxies.

What about the enemies? And what about those who watch with evil intentions? Will they remain in this world? Are they immortal in this worldly life so that they cannot die, get killed, or encounter calamities?! In fact, everyone will leave [from this world]. This is why Allah said to His Prophet (PBUH&F), {'And We did not grant eternity [on the earth] to any man before you; so if you die, would they be eternal?'}[Al-Anbya 21:34]. In other words, would they remain in this world forever after his departure from this life? Immortality had been granted to no one so that they would live forever after his departure from life, gloating over his passing or waiting for his passing.

Also in the reality of the enemies, they die and get killed, bearing terrible burdens and great sins. With his criminality, tyranny, oppression, and horrific criminal record, Sharon departed this life. Before his death, he suffered a dreadful condition for a while, neither alive nor dead. Then he left this world, but he departed carrying with him his burdens, sins, transgressions, horrific crimes, and dark criminal record. What remains for him are sin, torment, punishment, and his inevitable fate in Hell. Indeed, this is the fate of Netanyahu and other criminals: Their fate is to meet their doom and the inevitable departure from this world, whether by death or being killed, bearing their sins, transgressions, and wrongdoings.

Similarly, regarding those watchers with evil intentions, who may take pleasure from a position of spectatorship and belittlement and imagine that their choice to shirk their responsibility is a choice of safety and survival, they will leave this world against their will. Some of them may lose their lives while serving America and Israel and being exploited by them. Some of them may pass away from any disease, illness, affliction, or calamity. For sure, departure from this life is inevitable.

In the reality of the mujahidin and in the reality of the fronts of support and the fronts of jihad, the mujahidin continue to carry the flag and make effort in the cause of Allah with awareness, understanding, insight, steadfastness, and faith. Despite the fact that this round of confrontation with the enemies is very heated, as every front offers martyrs in the path of Allah, with firmness, certainty, strength of position, and continuous cohesion, there has never been at this stage in history—since the inception of the criminal occupying, usurping entity on the land of Palestine (the Zionist entity) until today—such a continued clash and heated confrontation with the Israeli enemy lasting for more than a year, as what has been taking place at this stage since the operation of Al-Aqsa Flood. In other words, the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood has been ongoing since the operation on the 7^th of October.

At this stage, which is at the peak of confrontation and heated to this level of intensity, the key factor that has contributed to this steadfastness, cohesion, and resilience on the front of Gaza, the front of Lebanon, the support fronts of Yemen and Iraq, and the continuous assistance and backing from the Islamic Republic of Iran is the drive of faith and jihad. This is why this stage and this battle are distinguished from previous rounds that involved Arab armies. The Israeli enemy was accustomed to decisively winning its battles against Arab armies that possessed equipment and arms far beyond what the fronts of Gaza and Lebanon have at the material level and mostly far beyond what any support front in Yemen or Iraq has. Even so, the Israeli enemy would defeat those armies in a matter of days, crushing them and ending the battle with their defeat. Sometimes, multiple armies would unite (five Arab armies, four Arab armies, more or less) and still be crushed in just a few days. However, the front of Gaza has remained firm and cohesive and continued to effectively confront the enemy for over a year, despite the extremely difficult circumstances in terms of capabilities.

The front of Lebanon is engaged in an intense confrontation, and the Israeli enemy has not been able till now to take control of even a few villages on the front edge of Lebanon's border with occupied Palestine. The steadfastness, resilience, and bravery the Israeli enemy has encountered there at the hands of the mujahidin surpass what it previously encountered in the July 2006 War. This cohesion and resilience persist despite even the pressure on the fronts of support.

Although facing American, Israeli, and British aggression, the front of Yemen continues its support, standing firm in its position, without retreat or yielding to any pressure: Despite facing enormous and intense political pressure, significant economic pressure, military pressure, and military aggression, the front of Yemen has remained a firm and steadfast front that continues to advance its actions, strengthen its position, and strive for what is greater. The front of Iraq continues its support, as well.

This faith-based drive, this model in these fronts, this great steadfastness for more than a year, is a model that the entire Ummah should benefit from, honour, embrace, rally around, and provide with full support. It is the duty of the entire Ummah, especially Arabs, to provide Gaza with all forms of support, to back the mujahidin in the Gaza Strip with all types and forms of support, and to support Lebanon as well. Their position regarding Yemen, Iraq, Iranian backing and support for Palestine and towards the causes of both Palestine and Lebanon should have been a positive and integrative one, built on collaboration, for they see a firm, cohesive model. While their armies were defeated in days, these fronts have stood with full effectiveness, steadfastness, and valour for over a year, demonstrating immense resilience and sacrifice. They are not supposed to remain passive or resort to backstabbing, gloating, and watching with evil attentions as some of them do.

What the Israeli enemy is doing, the crimes of genocide it is committing, and its targeting of populations in general—including children and women—are not military achievements or military victories; they are crimes in every sense of the word. When it comes to the military situation and military achievements, the Israeli enemy is a failure, and its failure is clear. It has failed in Gaza, on the northern front of Palestine in its confrontation with Lebanon, and across all fronts. The Americans stand with it as partners in crime, in action and position, and in this abundantly clear failure.

Considering their religious and Islamic responsibility and their interests, Arabs and Muslims should have made serious efforts and provide all forms of support to these steadfast and resilient fronts, whose steadfastness, resilience, and effectiveness in dealing blows to the enemy have never been seen in the Arab world before, not even among regimes and armies, despite the very tough circumstances they face, let alone the support the Israeli enemy receives from the Americans and the West. The Americans have opened all their arms depots to the Israeli enemy, established an air bridge, and kept increasingly supplying the Israeli enemy with military shipments and all types of ammunition and weapons, such as bombs and missiles to kill civilians, including women and children. This is not to mention their financial, political, and media support. Germany, France, and before them Britain—even more so than Germany and France—have hastened to provide open support to the Israeli enemy and even continue to do so, despite its wrongful, oppressive, and criminal position. In contrast, the Arabs are neglecting their sacred, great, and honourable duty, which is a means of drawing closer to Allah (Glory be to Him) and is an honour and merit. In fact, this duty is a religious and humanitarian responsibility and at the same time represents a genuine interest for them, which makes this negligence very serious. At the very least, they should have provided material and political support to their fellow mujahidin or at least offered humanitarian aid to alleviate the humanitarian tragedy.

There are two essential aspects, each placing a responsibility on our Islamic Ummah regarding what is happening in Palestine, the Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon, and its crimes in Gaza. Each of these two fundamental aspects places responsibility on the members of our Islamic Ummah, with Arabs at the forefront. The first aspect involves the just cause and the tragic oppression that has been ongoing for over a century. This includes seventy-five years under the criminal Zionist occupation of Palestine and the ongoing Zionist aggression over all these decades, leading up to the current actions of the Zionist enemies during this stage.

The crimes committed by the Zionist Jewish entity are extremely horrific, marked by extreme brutality and the utmost level of criminality. They are targeting the people of Gaza with all forms of genocidal techniques, particularly focusing on the northern part of Gaza more than the rest of the strip. The tragedy is immense, and the suffering is widespread across the entire Gaza Strip, but it is even more severe in the north, where the criminal Israeli enemy is committing the crime of forced displacement and genocide.

In this regard, they are perpetrating extremely heinous crimes: storming crowded shelters filled with displaced people, including thousands of children, women, and families. These shelters, which were meant to be safe havens under the auspices of the United Nations and UNRWA, are being invaded by soldiers armed to the teeth. They assault the displaced people with rifle butts, separating men from women, arresting many men, and forcibly driving out women and children while firing at them and beating them. The soldiers direct them to specific routes, and as soon as they follow these routes, they are bombed and fired at with various types of weapons, including tanks. They are also targeted by sniper fire, as snipers deliberately target children and women.

The brutal and bloody scenes of these horrific crimes are truly appalling, stirring anyone with even a trace of humanity, dignity, values, or honour. Such scenes are heartbreaking, and media outlets share these very bloody and painful scenes, which leaves everyone with no excuse. It is impossible for anyone to ignore what has become the talk of the whole world now, what fills the ears and eyes of the world.

They are also carrying out total destruction including demolishing of homes over the heads of their inhabitants. Even after aerial bombings, they blow up what remained of these homes with explosive barrels. They also deprive the population of food, water, and medicine. In addition, they destroy hospitals: They expel medical staff, remove the wounded and sick, including women and children, and then demolish the hospitals themselves.

This extreme brutality and extremely horrific criminality, especially as the enemy excels in killing women and children, is all happening in Gaza. Is this happening beyond the oceans, in a distant place where the Islamic Ummah can't help because it's so far away? No, this is happening in an Arab and Muslim region, right in the middle of the Islamic world. This is an absolute disgrace and an immense sin!

What is happening in Palestine has stirred the human conscience of the peoples and governments in non-Muslim nations, including in Latin America, where leaders and governments have taken action against the Israeli enemy, such as political and economic boycotts. To this day, however, many Arab countries have not taken similar measures. Despite the Zionist criminality and brutality that is happening and even keeps increasing, especially in northern Gaza, where escalation has reached the worst and most extreme levels, there has been no response or additional measures from these Arab countries that match the scale of the enemy's crimes.

Peoples around the world are protesting, even in Europe, the US, Australia, and many other places, while many in our Islamic Ummah seem completely detached, as if they neither hear, see, understand, nor know what is happening. This is a grave shortcoming. People from other countries express astonishment, with some sharing videos questioning why Muslims are just watching these people, who are part of them, in their midst, and within their countries, at the heart of the Islamic world, surrounded by Arabs! They ask why they are just watching and not taking action! They criticise, feeling provoked and bewildered by the position of the Arabs.

Indeed, I say with absolute certainty: Arab passivity has a negative impact on the passivity of many non-Arab Islamic countries, since it is the duty of Arab Muslims before others to take the lead. They consider the Palestinian cause as an Arab cause, not just an Islamic cause. It is true it is an Islamic cause, but they also say it is an Arab cause. This means that responsibility lies with Arabs before others, as they are the surrounding neighbours and the primary targets of the Israeli enemy before others.

Ultimately, there is a significant responsibility, and the current sorting of people's true nature is a very serious matter in the way of Allah, the Almighty: {'Never would Allah leave the believers in the state which you are in until He distinguishes the evil from the good'}[Ali 'Imran 3:179]. Allah Almighty, this sorting is miraculous! It separates between the evil and the good, and not just between the sincere believer from the insincere. It is at this level, between the good and the evil. But why?! From a humanitarian and moral perspective, could a person be in a healthy state if he knows the Zionist atrocities occurring in Gaza and the northern part of Gaza—that is, he witnesses such bloody tragic scenes and the extremely terrible injustice committed against children, women, men, and the elderly in Gaza—and yet remains unaffected in his emotions and feelings, unresponsive, and devoid of any sense of responsibility?! Certainly, no! Undoubtedly, the state of such a person is not a healthy one. His soul is an evil soul. If this very enormous, painful, sorrowful, and enraging tragedy of the Palestinian people cannot arouse one's feelings or make one feel the responsibility to do something, if one reaches a point where this does not provoke him, make him feel moved, or leave him with a sense of responsibility, then the soul of such a person is undoubtedly an evil soul. This is the extent of the sorting between the good and the evil. The matter is extremely serious; having such an evil soul is what can lead a person to such a state.

Therefore, Muslims in general and Arabs in particular have a responsibility to support the Palestinian people, to stand firmly with them at all levels, and as the Israeli enemy escalates its actions, the responsibility multiplies even further.

Another thing to consider regarding this responsibility is that the entire Ummah is targeted, especially the Arabs. So even if you no longer think about Palestinians and what they are going through—although reaching such a level would mean that one has undoubtedly lost his humanity, his human conscience, morals, values, belonging, and everything—if we assume that you have reached this point, you are still a target. This is true especially for Arabs more than others. In the Arab region, the neighbouring environment to Palestine is also a primary target, and this is clear and certain, no matter how much some may ignore it. Ignoring and turning a blind eye does not change the reality the established facts. This issue must be taken into consideration.

The Israelis and Americans both pursue a project, and this project is Zionism. Zionism is an aggressive and destructive project that targets our Islamic Ummah, primarily Arabs. The Zionist project aims to empower the Israeli enemy to control what they call the Middle East, primarily the Arab countries, and then the neighbouring countries. They choose to refer to it as the Middle East, and even the criminal Netanyahu has talked about the Middle East and changing the reality of the Middle East.

The Zionist project is to empower the Israeli enemy to control a wide geographical area of the Arab countries, what they call 'Greater Israel', which they have outlined from the Nile to the Euphrates, encompassing a group of Arab countries including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, along with Palestine—in other words, the entire Levant! This also includes Iraq and Egypt, or at a minimum, parts of Iraq and Egypt, and, as they say, three-quarters of Saudi Arabia, including Mecca and Al-Madinah.

The Zionist project aims to directly occupy this geographical area and to gain control over the rest of the Arab countries, even if not through direct occupation, due to the shortcomings the Jews face in numbers and human momentum. They lack the human momentum for direct coverage, complete occupation, and expansion into the rest of the Arab countries, but they may address the issue by dispatching individuals from other peoples and nations to solve this shortage to some extent under their direct control.

They also want to bring the rest under their complete control, make them experience the worst suffering, exploit them, enslave them, subjugate them, and make them submit to them. They want them to be in a state of humiliation, surrender, torment, slavery, and oppression under their control. They think that the control they seek will enable them to impose global influence that ensures the entire world is ruled by Jewish Zionism in Palestine and even in the Arab countries after their occupation, what they call Greater Israel. They seek to achieve global dominance through this.

The Americans are involved in this project, as well as the Israelis. This project is of a doctrinal dimension. In fact, they have transformed it into a religious belief, under the guise of religion. It exists in their texts, documents, and systems. They have converted it into a religious belief. It also represents for them a policy and strategy they follow. It is a strategy that shapes their policies, priorities, programmes, activities, and positions. They are involved in this project in every sense of the word, and all their endeavours and activities in the political field, in the economic field, in the sports field, in the intellectual and educational field, and in any field that targets our Ummah in all fields are in service of that project, for the benefit of that project, and in favour of that project.

This project is aggressive; it primarily targets our Ummah, aiming to erase its identity, occupy its lands, plunder its resources, and confiscate the right to freedom, independence, and dignity. In its targeting of our Ummah, it uses humiliation, enslavement, killing, bloodshedding, violation of honour, and seizure of sanctities. It targets our Ummah in both its religious and worldly affairs. This issue is realistic; they teach all of this in the Israeli schools' curricula. One of their key aims is to solidify this project as a key priority and connect even their future generations, their children, to it so that they grow up influenced by it.

They also act accordingly at a political level, based on this. That is because they, in addition to their project, have ambitions, animosities, and a tendency towards authority, imperialism, aggression, criminality, and tyranny. They are tyrants with the ambition to dominate; however, they see Islam as the greatest obstacle before them in these peoples, Islam with its purity, truth, and correct fundamental principles. They try to distance the Ummah from it in order to achieve their goals.

At the end of the day, their project is doomed to failure, because it is based on aggression and criminality and poses a threat to all humans; however, there is an important matter that we should pay attention to: Either we choose to make an effort as required, which saves us time and reduces the cost that we should pay in terms of suffering, sacrifices, and what the Ummah offers, or we choose passivity, which can lead to a huge cost that eventually causes people to move and choose the right approach but after reaching very terrible levels of humiliation and oppression and facing huge losses in all fields and at all levels, including human losses. Therefore, a conscious, insightful, confident, wise, and prudent action is to seek jihad at early stages. This is the safest and most secure path for our Ummah, and it is also a responsibility before Allah, the Almighty.

Some people think that they should disassociate themselves from fulfilling their responsibility until the very end—until the Jews and Zionists in general (American and Israeli Zionists) ultimately bring our Ummah to the worst conditions. Some may think this way: They chose to wait before believing in the importance of taking action until the Zionists have occupied these geographic areas, seized control of Mecca and Al-Madinah, dominated vast regions, and taken all these countries under their direct control, humiliating people there, killing and insulting them, violating their honour and sanctities, looting everything, controlling everything, and doing as they please. This mindset is entirely devoid of even the most basic standards of human decency. In other words, anyone who thinks this way is no longer behaving normally; they are foolish in every sense of the word and entirely devoid of wisdom.

The right course of action is to take the initiative and respond to Allah, the Almighty. We bear a responsibility, as we are a targeted ummah. The confrontation with the Israeli enemy is inevitable; it cannot be avoided, for it targets us. The Israeli enemy has a project and acts according to it. This project is a joint American-Zionist project that aims to enable the Israeli enemy to dominate the Arab lands, which means to have control over what they refer to as the Middle East in its entirety, and to use that to enhance global influence and rule the world. There is also what goes beyond that, considering their myths and falsehoods that they speak of. This is something they long for. In addition, they have deep-seated hatred for our Ummah and display strong enmity towards it. Could anything testify to the Book of Allah and His verses that present them as the most hostile towards our Ummah more than their crimes? What could be more telling than the crimes they are committing in Palestine and Lebanon, killing everyone, including women and children, the young and the elderly, the armed and the civilian unarmed ones? They express their hostility by every means.

When the one they call a minister in the so-called Israeli government boldly and shamelessly declared about that Zionist project, stating that they would seek to gain control over Lebanon, the Levant, parts of Iraq, Egypt, and three-quarters of Saudi Arabia, did the Arab regimes in some of these countries find this official statement provocative and take a strong position and practical measures and steps against this Israeli statement?! Some Arab regimes did not even dare to respond with any official statement or any practical step such as cutting diplomatic or economic relations—even to this extent. What if these statements were made by a minister in an Arab government of an Arab country here or there?! Would Saudi Arabia remain silent? What would its position be? They would likely do more than what they previously did to Qatar over nothing. They would have responded with very strong statements, diplomatic steps, and economic steps; the media would have strongly sided with them, and they would unleash it to attack that person, that country. They might not stop until they see an official apology, an official retraction of the stance, or the like. But when it comes to the Israeli entity, many regimes such as the Saudi regime, the Jordanian regime, and the Egyptian regime take no firm or strong position or practical measures, even though this represents true intentions of the Israeli enemy. Such intentions for them are a belief, a comprehensive project they ideologically and politically adhere to in all their plans, all their programmes, and all their practical steps—they are based on it.

This is a sad thing: They present maps in which they erase Palestine and show countries they consider to have come under their possession and control, and yet this does not provoke many regimes and peoples to take any strong action, neither in their media nor in their policies. The enemy seeks to implement its plan in stages. It works in an extensive way, preparing the Ummah and taming it for submission. The attitude of the Ummah towards what is happening in Palestine reveals the progress the enemy has made in the process of causing the Ummah to lose its consciousness, striking its spirit and morals, and gaining control over its political decisions.

Therefore, we must realise that confrontation is inevitable, not something that can be avoided. The Ummah is targeted, and those who speak of adopting a policy of disassociation, like some officials in certain Arab countries, or resort to normalization and betrayal, showing allegiance to Israel and America, are losers. This will not benefit them in any way: Had the enemy surpassed what it considers an obstacle—the mujahidin and fronts of jihad in Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the support fronts—it would have crushed the rest without showing any appreciation for their policy of disassociation, their normalization, or their betrayal.

Allah (Glory be to Him) has provided us with sufficient truths in the Holy Quran about the danger of these enemies. He has told us that they are enemies in every sense of the word, the greatest enemies of our Ummah. The reality testifies to that, as well as their crimes.

In Lebanon, the enemy expected that targeting leaders in Hezbollah would pave the way for gaining control over Lebanon only to see the solid, steadfast front of Hezbollah standing in its way and showing more resilience than any time before, including the July 2006 War. Therefore, the enemy resorted to its criminal behaviour as usual by indiscriminately targeting civilians, destroying residential areas and villages, displacing people, and killing. It is attempting, along with the Americans, to pressure for a change in the political situation and position of the Lebanese government and components. It incites everyone against Hezbollah, portraying to all as if Hezbollah was the problem in Lebanon and that the Lebanese people must rid themselves of this problem.

The real problem threatening Lebanon, its security, safety, independence, and the freedom of the Lebanese people, is the Israeli enemy. Lebanon has been and continues to be a target for the Israeli enemy. In fact, since its early days, since the establishment of Zionist gangs under the care of the British regime during its occupation of Palestine, and since the illegitimate birth of the occupying Zionist entity, the Israeli enemy has posed a threat to Lebanon. It previously invaded Lebanon and sought to occupy it. It has continued to violate Lebanese airspace every day—so why not adhering to Resolution 1701?!

It is clear what the Israeli enemy seeks to achieve at the very least and for some time until the opportunity arises for a full occupation of Lebanon: Until then, it seeks is to control part of Lebanon under the pretext of a security belt, as was the case in the past. It also seeks to size the headwaters of rivers, as is the case with the Litani River. This is evident for the Israeli enemy; it strives to control rivers and water sources as it has done in Jordan and at Lake Tiberias, and it has ambitions extending to the Litani River and other water sources.

It also seeks to change the political landscape in order to install a puppet government in Lebanon, settle Palestinians there, dismantle the resistance. It aims to violate the sovereignty of the Lebanese people and land: That is, to be given the right to target anyone in Lebanon at any time without restrictions and to carry out operations anywhere and against anyone, whenever it wishes. In other words, it aims to strip the Lebanese people of their freedom and independence, subjecting them to Israeli control and influence; therefore, staying neutral is not an option.

As seen in the past and through lived experience, what deters the Israeli enemy is the Lebanese people rallying around the Islamic resistance to achieve victory and drive out the enemy. This is the only available and right solution . Here we see the resistance and the mujahidin of Hezbollah bravely confronting the enemy with steadfastness, might, and strength.

In addition, every now and then, the Americans keep speaking about the 'day after plan' for Gaza. The Americans seek to impose options that serve the Israeli enemy, even supported by Arab regimes; and they aim to confiscate the Palestinian right to self-determination. However, Palestinian factions are aware of this, and the Palestinian people will not accept that.

Indeed, since the start of this round of the battle (Operation Al-Aqsa Flood), the Americans have used deception. While they fully opened their warehouses for the Israeli enemy to take whatever it needs and while they activated an air bridge to intensively transfer shipments of bombs and missiles for more destruction and killing of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples and for the preparation for an aggressive operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Americans have sent their Secretary of State to speak of peace and efforts to stop the escalation, just like every time—this is not the first time. The American approach is part of a tactic to serve the Israeli position. However, there is a responsibility on all members of our Ummah and Arab and Islamic regimes to take action with awareness and not to be deceived by the American position.

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The confrontation on all the fronts of jihad across Palestine and Lebanon is at its peak:

• The Al-Qassam Brigades are inflicting significant damage on the Israeli enemy, and the martyrdom of Sinwar has only strengthened their resolve, inspiration, valour, and steadfastness. The impact of Sinwar's martyrdom (May Allah have mercy on him) on both the Palestinian and global levels, even for future generations, will not be erased by the Israeli enemy’s attempts to distort the reality, as his honourable, heroic, great, and inspiring position has emerged globally despite the enemy’s efforts, making Sinwar’s martyrdom an everlasting victory due to his inspiring, heroic, and great position.
• The Al-Quds Brigades, along with other Palestinian factions, stand valiantly with the Al-Qassam Brigades, carrying out daily heroic operations.
• The Lebanese front has established the Jaffa (Tel Aviv) equation and turned Haifa into a ghost town where the occupiers spend most of their time in shelters. Additionally, Hezbollah's powerful operation, which employed a drone that penetrated all of the enemy's air defence systems and reached the bedroom of the residence where the criminal Netanyahu lives, has instilled terror in the hearts of all the criminal leaders of the Zionists.
• The support front in Iraq continues to escalate with steadfastness, undeterred by attacks, media intimidation, or political pressure from the Americans and their proxies.
• Our front in Yemen, the land of faith and wisdom, continues to engage with resilience and steadfastness in the Battle of the Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad. Naval operations continue to be carried out, with missile and drone strikes targeting the Israeli enemy in occupied Palestine. This is not to mention the intensive public activities that are unprecedented worldwide.

Also, we are on a practical path, standing ready for any level of escalation that the Americans and Israelis may resort to. When our Yemeni people (the Yemen of faith and wisdom) carried the flag of jihad for the sake of Allah, they did so with faith, steadfastness, loyalty, sincerity, and courage. Therefore, this flag is high and deeply rooted. As the battle is at its peak and as we see the horrific Zionist crimes, our front will remain present and effective and never stop. There is no weakness, no weariness, and no surrender, but rather resilience and steadfastness, as expressed by the Yemeni people through their position, their jihad, and their weekly million-man demonstrations.

I call upon our dear people to participate tomorrow, Friday, (Allah willing) in a million-strong demonstration in the capital Sana'a and in the other governorates and districts, according to the established arrangements, with the aim of responding to Allah, seeking jihad in His cause, and showing support for and loyalty to the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples and the brave mujahidin in Gaza (the land of dignity) and in Lebanon.

We ask Allah (Glory be to Him) to grant us all success in seeking what pleases Him, have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, and set free our captives. We also ask Him to grant us victory, for He is the All-Hearer of prayer. O Allah, hasten victory and relief for the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples and for the dear mujahidin in Palestine and Lebanon and in all fronts of jihad. Indeed, You are the All-Hearer of prayer.

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.