Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah December 28 "Gaza" speech

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech on the Israeli aggression Gaza is subject to be delivered on the first Ashura night commemoration in Sayyed Ashuhadaa (pbuh) Compound in Rweiss. .

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah the Lord of the World and peace be on our Master and Prophet - the seal of the Prophets – Abi Al Qassem Mohammad bin Abdullah and on his pure and chaste Household and chosen companions an on all prophets and messengers. Peace be upon you my Master and lord, Aba Abdullah Al Hussein, O son of Allah's Prophet and on the souls that gather in your holy site. Peace be on you as long as I remained alive and as long as night follows day. May Allah make it not the last of my visits to you. Peace be on Hussein, Ali the son of Hussein, the children of Hussein and the companions of Hussein .

Brothers and sisters peace be upon you all and Allah's mercy and blessing. May Allah increase your reward for your grief on you Imam and master, the grandson on the Prophet, Abi Abdullah Al Hussein peace be upon him.. Brothers and sisters it's unfortunate that we begin our new Hegira year and our new year with a great humanistic tragedy which had led to the killing and injuring of the dear and the loved martyrs and wounded. The number of martyrs has transcended three hundred and the number of wounded one thousand in the besieged, oppressed and persecuted and at the same time resisting, patient and steadfast Gaza Strip. We need not talk about the thought and idea when there is before us the evidence, the implementation and the model. In these hours and moments we are living again a new evidential replica of Karbala. We are before a great scene from Kabala. If we looked at what is taking place here along with what took place in history, that'll help us more in understanding what took place. The true history of Karbala says that there is a faithful group who are adherent to their honor, esteem, dignity and the right of their nation, who refuse submission, humiliation and surrendering to tyrants and oppressors and who resist and stand up for confrontation. Now when this group is put before two choices either a disgraceful humiliating submission or unbalanced and unequal confrontation which might possibly or for sure lead to martyrdom, it chooses resisting and confronting and martyrdom.

This group of faithful is being besieged by hunger and thirst, terrorized, then killed and still does not retreat. Martyrs fall one after the other. Isn't this what took place in Karbala with Al Hussein peace be upon him? There the ideal model was made as a foundation for this great Islamic humanistic school for the all ages to come. He said his well known word which we say again and again every day and especially on the tenth day of Muharram: the bastard son of a bastard has put us before two choices: war or humiliation; unbalanced confrontation or humiliating and disgraceful submission. Hussein made his choice. Humiliation, how far! Allah does not accept that to befall us, neither his Prophet nor the believers….

Why: humiliation, how far? Is it an emotional issue and something that has to do with excitement and personal zeal? Or is it a humanistic, religious and divine commitment which springs from human values, dignity and rights? Hussein peace be upon him says: Humiliation, how far! Why does he say so? Neither Allah, nor his Prophet, the believers, the good hearted and the zealous honorable souls accept that we favor obedience of the villainous to the death of the noble. This is the school of Hussein and Prophet Mohammad in Karbala: to choose the martyrdom of honorable and the noble and not the base life of humiliation and submission where honor, rights and sanctities are being given in. This choice goes in harmony with Al Hussein's human nature and Islamic religious commitment. This was the choice in Karbala. This was the choice in July 2006 when you in Lebanon were before two choices. The Resistance, the resistance people and all those who embraced the resistance were put before two choices: humiliating submission and acceptance of the American Israeli conditions to stop the war or confronting the aggression, demolition, killing and massacre. You refused to live the life of the mean who are dead in the shape of living beings. You chose the martyrdom of the noble instead. Martyrs fell among you and with martyrdom the historic victory was achieved in Lebanon.

With the logic of Hussein and Karbala, you refused humiliation and insisted on confronting and resisting despite the demolition of tens of thousands of your houses and the falling of thousands of martyrs and wounded – men, women and children – and despite the lack of supporters and backers and the abandonment of those near and the connivance of those far. The outcome was the victory of blood on the sword. The same is taking place nowadays in Gaza. I'm not saying it's similar. No, what's taking place now in Gaza is an exact Palestinian replica of what took place in July 2006. We Lebanese understand very well what is taking place in Gaza. Be aware! What's taking place there in detail is what took place with us with the same set forth choices, the same connivance, the same battle and if God wills the same outcome.

Look at Gaza! It is besieged by hunger, thirst, iron, fire and terror. It offered but yesterday hundreds of martyrs and wounded. Still we find its people patient and steadfast. They don't show signs of weakness and frailty. The legal premier there – the freedom fighter brother Ismail Hanieh - steps out from under fire and says should they demolish all Gaza– and they can't – we'll not give up and give in. We'll guard our dignity, honor and rights. This is true Karbala; when man refuses humiliation and disgrace while offering martyrs and remains their last honors and while confronting fire day and night.

Today brothers and sisters, allow me to talk about some dimensions in the confrontation. Frankly speaking in July War, I didn't speak frankly. I understand very well the status of the brethrens in Gaza which is similar to our status in July War and even worse. That's why they must have their own well-planned speech but allow me to be frank whatever the consequences were. Today the clear explicit righteous word must reverberate. Let every nation assume its responsibility before what's taking place. Brothers and sisters what's taking place in Gaza is like what took place in Lebanon. Let me be frank in my description of what's taking place. There's a current and continuous US-Israeli project for the region. They want to impose a humiliating settlement with US-Israeli conditions to be imposed on the rest of Arabs – after Egypt and Jordan stepped out and concluded so called peace agreements with Israel. There remain the Palestinian people, Lebanon and Syria. The Americans and the Zionists want to settle the Arab-Israeli struggle not in any way but under US-Israeli conditions to be imposed on the Palestinians, the Lebanese and the Syrians. They must submit to these conditions and they have no other choices from the Americans and the Zionists' viewpoint. They work on imposing these conditions with power, under pressure, via isolation, through besiege, via causing internal ordeals to involve resistance movements in internal ordeals, through political and psychological media war, through assassinations and through wars. This is what's wanted. It's needed that he submits whoever didn't submit yet. It's needed that he gives in whoever didn't give in yet under US-Israeli conditions. Some Arab regimes are accomplices and part in this project. Some speak about Arab silence. This is not true. In fact there is Arab complicity. I don't mean all Arabs and all Arab regimes. But still there is complete and eventual complicity on behalf of some Arab regimes in this project, especially from the regimes which concluded so called peace agreements with Israel. These regimes work and give their support on all political, psychological, social, media, cultural, security and military levels so as to impose submissive conditions on those who resist and refuse the US-Zionist project pursuant to Palestine and the Arab-Israeli struggle.

Let's be very frank then. There is complicity and involvement from some Arab nations in what is taking in our region.

The war that was waged on Lebanon in 2006 was with Arab approval – and in some cases under Arab demand. The Israelis were clear and no one among the Arabs is courageous enough to deny that because the Zionists might have documents saying that such and such used to contact them saying "come on, rid us of Hezbollah". When the war started they used to soothe them. When they flopped in the first days of the war, they used to demand on them to carry on their hits to behead Hezbollah. This is what is taking place in Gaza today. They are calling on Israel to exterminate Hamas, Jihad and the rest of the Palestinian resistance factions to behead these resistance fighters and put a decisive end to the battle. They demand and offer their help in this perspective, in fact. Even more we heard some Israeli officials saying today that the Arab support offered in the war against Gaza is more than the Arab support Israel received in its war against Lebanon in July 2006. That's really regrettable.

So this is the true scene. I even tell you that the true reason behind the inter-Palestinian division and inter-Palestinian fighting is some of these Arab regimes which contributed, instigated, financed and armed so that the inter-Palestinian status reaches the level of fighting. As they did here in Lebanon where the ex-government couldn't dare to take those black decisions on May 5th wasn't it for the support, cover and backing of some of these Arab regimes which wanted then to rush Lebanon in the fires of a harsh internal war and a true internal ordeal. But this was overstepped thanks to the performance of the opposition during that time.

Those are neither unbiased, nor covered, nor embarrassed. They are convinced in what they're doing and they're doing what they're doing from the position of their commitment to this project. This is very regrettable.

Now when inter-fighting and inter-division take place in Palestine or in Lebanon, it'll be the pretext taken by these regimes to pull back their hands saying "Well the Palestinians are killing each other. What are we able to do?" Let's disclaim responsibility towards Palestine or towards Lebanon – and unfortunately- even on the political and media levels. Nobody called during July War 2006 or now in Gaza Strip on the Arab regimes to activate their fronts or to fight on behalf of the Lebanese then or the Palestinians currently. The least was demanded: an appropriate political stance or a fair media position. But again as in July War, we find that the victim is being held responsible. Yesterday, we heard an Egyptian official saying that he who aborted efforts for a Palestinian national dialogue is responsible for what's taking place – i.e. Hamas. Then he says that through our readings, we have made warnings and he who doesn't adhere to warning must himself assume responsibility. Can anyone believe that such speech was delivered by an Arab man or an Arab official being the very man who said during the peak of the siege on Gaza which was suffering from hunger and maladies that we'll break the legs of whoever steps the land of Egypt. By Allah, brothers and sisters let me resort to history. When we witness such models among officials, leaderships and personalities in the Arab world, I personally understand some of Imam Hussein's (pbuh) speech in that time. He used to say: "I can't but find death as happiness and life among oppressors but disgusting." By Allah, there is no value for life under such personalities and leaderships that conspire against the nation. When we have 300 martyrs who were slaughtered in minutes, an Arab official steps out to hold the victims and martyrs responsible for the confrontation. As if Hamas, Jihad and the Palestinian factions in Gaza were supposed to agree on dilation to ease the siege, hunger and humiliation which were practiced against them for six months.

Today we are hearing the very speech which we used to hear in July War 2006: an attempt to hold the resistance in Gaza responsible of the war and its repercussions. This is disdainful and regrettable. Even on the media level, I watched yesterday some Arab channels - which are more appropriately described as Hebrew channels. As if those who were killed in Gaza died in an accident in India? They reported the news and turned to their ordinary programs as if there is no great Arab humanistic catastrophe taking place in Gaza? Indeed, these channels will be embarrassed? What to report to their audience? Still they insist to refer to those who were killed in Gaza as "dead" and not "martyrs".

Today brothers and sisters, this is the true and sound scene. The people of Gaza took their blood-shedding decision and they're practicing it in martyrdom, resistance, steadfastness, glory and honor as you did in 2006. They are not hindered as you were not hindered by the great sacrifices offered, the massive demolition, the blood and tears shed and the abandonment practiced by the world from insisting on adhering to this right and carrying on in fighting and resisting steadfastly.

But what is the responsibility of the nation today? We as a nation are before a central aim which we must put before our eyes in the current confrontation. The central aim to stop this Zionist aggression on Gaza must be preventing this aggression from achieving any of its aims. Thus will be the victory in Gaza despite the great sacrifices. This aim must be wrought for by the whole nation. As for the governments which haven't showed any action, their peoples must push them to take action. The peoples are not excused should they say that our regimes are dictatorships. We must hit the street in the Arab and Islamic worlds and raise our voices in face of the world. We must practice pressure on our governments even if they opened fire on our chests. This is our duty. And whoever falls in this way is a martyr in the path of liberating Al Qods. He is a martyr of Islam, of prophethood, divine missions and humanity. But it's forbidden that rulers excuse themselves for their inability and the peoples for the rulers' suppression. In July War, I didn't call on the Arab peoples to do so but in Gaza War and the aggression against Gaza I say that this is our duty: we must hit the streets in thousands if not tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands to call on these governments to assume their responsibilities. These governments know what they can do. They can do much in this time when the United States and European countries and other countries are suffering from severe financial and economic crisis. Yes, today the Arab world owns oil, money and the political position. Our governments and regimes can simply and with little effort stop the aggression on our people in Gaza. This is first. Secondly, the Arab and Islamic peoples must hit the street and call on the Egyptian regime in particular – today the Egyptian stance is the corner stone in what's taking place in Gaza; nobody is calling on Egypt to activate its front and fight – to open the cross point so that food, medicine, water and even arms be accessible to our people in Gaza. And in Gaza there are people and fighters whether men or women who are qualified to stand steadfast, resist and make victories. They have showed extreme courage in all the previous stages. In Lebanon, during July War, we didn't call on any Arab nation to open a front. Yes we called for opening borders. That's why we used to show our gratitude to Syria as being our partner in steadfastness and victory in July War. That's because Syria didn't close the borders despite these crossing points and border ways being subject to repetitive aerial shelling. Nothing is asking Egypt to do more than opening the cross point once and for all for the alive and not for the wounded and martyrs. Egypt is not The Red Crescent. Egypt is the mother of the world as is being said. It's the greatest and most important Arab country. It's not The Red Cross or The Red Crescent to deal with Gaza people as such. The Egyptian leadership and regime must resolve this issue. On the political level it is also demanded from Egypt not to make use of the War to press on Hamas and the Palestinian factions in Gaza to accept the Israeli conditions to stop the war or make an appeasement as some among us made during the first days of July aggression. They rather must help politically the people of Gaza to halt the aggression unconditionally. This is its true responsibility. Our peoples in the Arab and Islamic worlds must make their calls on the Egyptian regime. So far we were talking with civility. But following what took place yesterday we tell the Egyptian regime:

O Egyptian officials, if you don't open Rafah Cross point, if you don't help your brethrens in Gaza, you are accomplices in the crime, in the killing, in the siege, in making the Palestinian tragedy. This speech must be heard by the Egyptian officials from the peoples of the Arab and Islamic worlds, from scholars, parties, elites, the educated, and journalists from among the various social classes. They must know that they'll be in a position condemned by the nation, history, prophets and martyrs if they didn't make haste from now to take this great historic humanistic stance. The speech is thus oriented above all to the Egyptian people -this Muslim, Arab, noble, kind, resisting, courageous and honorable people whom we all know their hearts minds and way of thought. Let the Egyptian people hit the streets in millions. Can the Egyptian police stop millions of Egyptians? They can't. We all call on the Egyptian people because they are under this regime which closes Rafah cross point. O people of Egypt, you must open the cross point with your chests. I'm not making overbids. I'm talking from the position of being a part of the resistance which fought for 33 days to the people who fought, and offered sacrifices and martyrs. What we hear and know about the Egyptian officers and armed forces that they are still adherent to their noble Arab descent and still on their anti-Zionist position despite decades after Camp David. This is what we know about them. I'm not calling for staging a coup d'etat in Egypt. I'm not in the position of calling for a coup d'etat in Egypt but I'm with the generals and officers pressing on the political leadership: that doesn't go with the honor of our military uniforms, and military affiliations to see our people in Gaza being slaughtered while we guard Israel's borders! Let move today: Egypt, the people of Egypt, scholars, Al Azhar sheikdom, the various armed forces, and political elites – I don't think anyone is excused. This is what changes the equation – adjusting the Egyptian political position. This is what the Arab leaders, Arab peoples and the Egyptian people must call on Egypt to do. Were we able to open this cross point and water, food, medicine, money and even arms were accessible again to our people in Gaza, the victory epic of Lebanon will reoccur for sure. We are sure of victory despite all the harsh conditions our people in Gaza are suffering from. Should Gaza stand steadfast – brothers and sisters – for days and weeks the aggression will come to an end. This enemy does not bear a war of attrition and a long war. This enemy will be obliged at last to halt his aggression and his aims will fall along with all these heads which wanted to restore power via Palestinian blood voting ballot boxes in Israeli elections. Yes, some will tell us – and some tell us so in Lebanon – that the solution is in heading for a just and comprehensive peace. This is the solution that'll put an end to the tragedy! Well, putting aside our initial position on a fair and comprehensive peace, what have you – who call for a fair and comprehensive peace since, before and after Madrid Agreement - gained from Israel so far except massacres, blood bathes, aggressions and more humiliation and condition imposing? In the Palestinian settlement, the Palestinian government went so far. The negotiations in Camp David weren't with the Likud or Kadima but with the Labor Party with Barak who was head of the enemy cabinet. Under late president Yasser Arafat in Camp David, the Palestinians didn't gain the least of their rights that saves their face. What fair and comprehensive peace will be achieved under such humiliating Israeli conditions: no Jerusalem, no right to return and no Palestinian land worthy of erecting the state of Palestine on. What are these theorizations and absurdities! At the time when we are being killed and slaughtered in Palestine as we were previously and currently being in Lebanon, some speak about a fair and comprehensive peace. Have you convinced the Israelis first of a fair and comprehensive peace so you call on the Palestinian factions to put down their arms? What've you gained from the Israelis so far, in Lebanon, in Palestine and in the region? Have they restored to you your legal rights or the last of them? Never! Some in Lebanon tell us – and this is also an absurdity – the international community will guard us. Where is the international community to guard an armless people in Gaza and to protect the children and women of Gaza?

The international resolutions will guard us, they say. Where are these international resolutions in the Arab-Israeli struggle? None of which was implemented, even 425. The Arab solidarity will guard us, they say. What Arab solidarity? The Arabs need days to agree on holding a session and they haven't yet due to reservations shown here and there!

Brothers and sisters: what took place and is taking place in Gaza and what took place in July Aggression 2006 must be sufficient enough to convince every Arab, every nationalist in his nation and every man loyal to his rights country and nation: what protects our peoples and restores our rights is the resistance – the struggling, resisting, steadfast blood shedding resistance. All other choices are but mirage. Do we Arabs and the peoples of the Arab and Islamic worlds need to have this conscious and conviction a hundred Qana massacre? A hundred Gaza massacre? A hundred Dair Yassin massacre? A hundred Al Haram Al Ibrahim massacre? This is very regrettable by Allah. This enemy with whom you seek peace every two years gives you a new evidence of his savagery, racism, criminal nature, and radical shedding of innocent blood. This enemy will not return your calls for peace but with more killing. Do we need more massacres so our rulers, peoples and elites be convinced that we are before an enemy who is criminal, terrorizing and racial in nature and with which no peace can be achieved under whatever conditions. What if under humiliating conditions? Do we need more bloodshed to be convinced? Yet under all conditions and with the clarity the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine has and the clarity with which we are calling governments and peoples we are sure of victory – as we know Gaza's people and resistance fighters. Here I call on them in your name and in the name of the fighters in Lebanon, the martyrs' families, the prisoners and wounded families and in the name of every honorable resistance fighter in Lebanon, I congratulate them and offer my condolence for their martyrs and ask Allah to bless their wounded with health and remedy. We are sure that they are a people who trust in Allah and believe in the divine victory – even if some don't believe in it. They are all-attentive in the battlefield and firm in the struggle. They give unconditionally. They are all-honorable, dignified and steadfast. These are the true victory-making elements: faith, devotion and steadfastness. This makes victory. Allah will support and back you and the whole nation is responsible of standing on your side. No one is allowed to drop behind. Each according to his capabilities is responsible of backing you.

As for Lebanon, I'd like to say some words concerning Lebanon in this turmoil and ordeal. Since the beginning of the bloody aggression against Gaza, Olmert, Barak, Livney among other Israeli officials made serious threats and warning to "whatever side" – and they mean Lebanon. They've taken measures on the borders and mobilized the northern borders of occupied Palestine. Today calls for settlers in northern occupied Palestine were made to prepare and equip shelters. Many other notes were made in this perspective. There are two possibilities. We must talk here with national moral responsibility. I don't want to frighten anyone or let anyone feel worried. Still I can't deceive anyone. There're two possibilities: either all what Israelis say and do in the northern region are pre-emptive steps fearing anything might take place on the Lebanese side, or –this other possibility can't be neglected – in this bad timing, under such Arab regime complicity, frail Arab position, international vacancy, the world's occupation in financial crisis, political vacancy in US decision-making between Obama's assumption of power and Bush's outgoing, one possibility remains – that the enemy resorts to taking action or staging an aggression against Lebanon to seize this opportunity. They need that whether in the elections or to repair what they call the Israeli deterrence image. We can't feel safe taking what some say into consideration that Israel doesn't fight on two fronts. It had fought on three and four fronts in the past. This calls on the Lebanese government, army, people and resistance to be cautious and alert and not to deem easy what's taking place around. Even the eight rockets which were found days before the military attack on Gaza evoke this question. Who put these rockets before the war started? Unfortunately, we find some political forces and figures when Tarraf brothers were kidnapped in Blida village we didn't hear their voices. We didn't notice this zeal, national speech and broken heart. But when some Katyusha rockets were found in Naqura they made their theories and statements. They started finger-pointing on us. Some even said nobody can move in that region but Hezbollah. If these were their information on which they usually build their political analysis they are mistaken. This is a wrong and unsound piece of information. Some also tried to hold Hezbollah responsible of that. I'd like to tell them that we in Hezbollah are courageous enough to assume responsibility of whatever action we take. We don't hide behind our finger as some do. We have the courage and we are not accused to try to push aside the accusation. The issue is suspicious from the other side. Can't Israel infiltrate to southern Lebanon an place the rockets? Can't Israel's agents – and they're many in Lebanon as persons or nets – undertake this action not in solidarity with our people in Gaza but to give Israel the pretext to stage an aggression against Lebanon? Who says that this gives Israel the pretext? Let's say that such thing took place, does that give Israel the pretext to stage an aggression against Lebanon, to demolish and confront Lebanon? You are furnishing Israel with excuses through such speeches and absurd frail statements. I'm not now concerned in deeply discussing this issue. I'm concerned in calling on Lebanon and the area including Lebanon which has defeated Israel not only twice but many times but the most important two times were in 2000 and 2006. Yes we must be cautious. I'm not frightening you. This speech must not be dealt with as a media leakage. I called on the brethrens in the south in particular to be cautious because we are facing a criminal treacherous enemy. We don't know the size of the conspiracies and plots made against us in the region and the world. We weren't frightened by what took place in July War 2006 and by what's taking place today in Gaza. We believe in our choices and are ready for confronting whatever aggression on our land and against our country and dignity. We've written our slogan with blood and we face all aggressors whoever they were with our presence, resistance and affiliation to "humiliation, how far!" Brothers and sisters, we all in Lebanon and all over the Arab and Islamic worlds are called upon in these historic days which coincide with Ashura days to assume historic responsibility towards what's taking place in Gaza. The outcome of what's taking place in Gaza will not affect Gaza alone or Palestine alone but the whole nation. We must carry on in our work and take action. We mustn't be satisfied with an activity here or a sit in there or a demonstration. We must exert every effort to defend our people. As for tomorrow which His Eminence Sayyed Khamenai -May Allah prolong his lifetime- called as a mourning day for all the resisting fighters and the free, we are concerned in marking that day by showing our solidarity and condolence to our people in Gaza and by mourning the pure oppressed martyrs who were killed there. In my turn, I call you tomorrow at three pm to a massive rally at Raya Field to partake in this mourning expression and in paying our tribute to the martyrs and fighters in Gaza and to express our solidarity with them. I know that tomorrow many Ashura assemblies will be held in neighborhoods and mosques. I call for canceling all these assemblies in the afternoon and showing up tomorrow: men, women, children, adults, infants. We must meet tomorrow in this solidarity show with Gaza and the martyrs. Tomorrow we must let the whole world hear our voice. The whole world must see our "Husseini" fists. We must announce to the world that we are here. No one can make us succumb: no killing, no blood, no terrorizing. I used to call on you on the tenth day of Muharam to gather in Raya Field. But brothers, tomorrow is the tenth day. "All days are but Ashura days. All lands are but Karbala." Tomorrow Al Hussein will call and we'll answer his calls. You'll give the answer tomorrow God willing. My Master Aba Abdullah, that's your blood, your voice and your speech. My Master Aba Abdullah, O son of the Prophet of Allah, that's your blood and limbs and your speech is reverberating through history. Again your blood is defeating the sword. Your blood is awaking the nation; your blood is marking the path to the life of the noble, the dignified and the chase. Peace be upon you my Master and lord, Aba Abdullah Al Hussein, O son of Allah's Prophet and on the souls that gather in your holy site. Peace be on you as long as I remained alive and as long as night follows day. May Allah make it not the last of my visits to you. Peace be on Hussein, Ali the son of Hussein, the children of Hussein and the companions of Hussein and on all martyrs in the "Husseini" resisting path and peace be upon you all and Allah's mercy and blessing.