Senior Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, speaking at the event organized by the Al-Quds International Foundation, called for continued financial support for Hamas, a return to suicide operations in the West Bank, and open conflict with Israel and its allies.
“All the American and Zionist narratives in the past days are pure lies,” Meshal said at the event in Türkiye this week. “The United States is a partner in the aggression,” he added, condemning U.S. support for Israel.
Since the October 7 attacks, Hamas-affiliated charities and organizations outside the Palestinian Territories have been coordinating events to garner public backing.
The Al-Quds International Foundation, a group sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2012 for being controlled by and acting on behalf of Hamas, has been at the forefront of these efforts. The latest event, titled “Eye on Al Aqsa” and promoted on social media, commemorated the recent death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. It featured speeches from Meshal and other prominent figures.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the foundation was established in Beirut by members of Hamas and "exist[s] to support the families of Hamas fighters and prisoners and to raise money for programs and projects in the Palestinian Territories intended to spread Hamas’s influence and control."
In his speech, Meshal called on supporters to contribute both financially and by taking up arms.
“It is not enough for us to be proud of the resistance and watch clips on television… pride, honor, and financial support are required,” he said. “What is also required today in the West Bank and Jerusalem is an escalation of this conflict. In the West Bank, we want a return to martyrdom operations and to unleash all forms of resistance.”
Who is Khalid Meshal?
Meshal has served in various high-ranking roles within Hamas, including as the head of the terrorist group’s external operations. He has been based outside the Palestinian Territories, living in Syria, Qatar, and elsewhere, for much of his leadership.
More recently, he was considered a potential successor to Ismail Haniyeh as head of Hamas’s political bureau before Yahya Sinwar, the Gaza-based mastermind of the October 7 attacks, was chosen as the group’s leader.
In his remarks at the event, Al-Ahmar accused the United States and other Western countries of “turning a blind eye” to the Palestinian issue and labeled the October 7 terrorist attacks a natural response to Israeli and Western policies.
“The Palestinian people had no choice but to flood Al-Aqsa,” Al-Ahmar said. “The United States of America and other Western countries are still turning a blind eye… and this requires all of us to exert maximum pressure on these countries to stop their participation in killing the Palestinian people and usurping their rights.”
More on Kharon’s coverage of Hamas fundraising and business networks:
• Inspired by Al-Qaida’s Founder, Charity Solicits Support for Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
• Gaza Now, Sanctioned for Supporting Hamas, Continues Fundraising
• International Conference Rallies Support for Hamas
• Hamas Global Representatives Mobilize to Raise Money and Rally Support
• Snapshot: Hamas Fundraising – Online Groups Raise Millions for Gaza
