Israelis and Jews around the world were not the only ones taking part in Israel’s Independence Day celebrations. Not ones to let an opportunity go by, Hamas released a video in honor of Israel’s 66th birthday, issuing their own birthday greetings to the state of Israel.
The Gaza-based terrorist organization created their own cover of the Hatikvah (“The Hope”), Israel’s national anthem. Titled “Sof Hatikvah” (“The End of Hope”) and sung entirely in rhyme in Hebrew, the video renewed previous threats made by Hamas, including promises that Israelis would soon be driven out of the land of Israel.
Uploaded on YouTube, the video opens up with the image of a Palestinian boy throwing rocks and shattering the State of Israel. A singer croons that smart Israelis would be allowed to leave Israel and return “to their homelands” while those who refuse to leave would have their fates “sealed beneath the dirt.”
As a poorly computer generated Hamas militant smashes Israel’s state symbols, the singer says, “The army of the Zionists was built of wax and now it is melted and has no hope.”
The video mixes historical imagery of Hamas’s conflict with Israel with computer-made Hamas gunmen driving Jews into the sea and celebrating on top of the al-Aqsa mosque. Bodies of murdered IDF soldiers are seen piled up on streets. Images of terrorist attacks in Israel are shown as Israeli leaders with targets on their heads flash by.
“The Holy city [Jerusalem] will return to its former name,” the singer drones. “My capital Beyt al-Maqdis, not Jerusalem.”
The release of the video comes are a precarious time between Israeli-Palestinian relations. The last round of peace talks with the Palestinians was cancelled last month when the Palestinian Authority announced a national unity government with Hamas.
Hamas has repeatedly stated that its main goal is to destroy the Zionist enemy and capture the Jewish homeland for the Palestinians. Hamas is responsible for countless terrorist attacks against Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to negotiate with any Palestinian government whose members are part of a terrorist organization.
Full translation of “Sof Hatikvah”
“The army of the Zionists was built of wax
And now it is melted and has no hope
The vile Jews who were here before –
Let someone tell me what is left of them
Two groups — the first will be returned
To its homelands if it chooses so
While the idiot if he remains stubborn
His fate is sealed beneath the dirt
The Holy city will return to its former name
My capital Beyt al-Maqdis, not Jerusalem.”
