Hamas Salutes UK Labor Leader Corbyn For Pro-Palestinian Message

Palestine militant group Hamas saluted Jeremy Corbyn and thanked him for showing solidarity with Palestine on Thursday. Hamas praised Corbyn’s moral position and said they received his message with "great respect and appreciation."

Corbyn’s pro- Palestine message has ignited questions about the Labor leader’s connection with the group designated a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union.

The Israeli Defense Forces earlier this week accused Hamas of cancelling school classes in Gaza, which it rules, and pushing the children to take part in confrontations with Israeli troops.

Hamas in their statement said, “We have received with great respect and appreciation the solidarity message sent by the British Labor Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to the participants in the mass rally that took place in central London last Saturday in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of Nakba,” The Telegraph reported.

The statement further said, “We also salute Mr. Jeremy Corbyn for his principled position in rejecting the so-called Trump Plan for the Middle East.”

More than 4,000 people marched in London last week to celebrate Nakba Day, which recognizes the dispersion of Palestinians from their homes during the 1948 war with Israel. Corbyn asked the UK government to condemn the killing of protesters in Gaza through his message at the march. He also promised to recognize Palestine as a state if he becomes the prime minister.

Corbyn on Saturday posted on his Facebook: “We cannot stand by or stay silent at the continuing denial of rights and justice to the Palestinian people. The Labour Party is united in condemning the ongoing human rights abuses by Israeli forces, including the shooting of hundreds of unarmed Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza -- most of them refugees or families of refugees -- demanding their rights,” Fox News reported.

Corbyn has faced severe criticism for referring to members of the group as "friends" in 2015. He later apologized for using the term. The Telegraph reported that Corbyn had faced backlash earlier for attending a wreath-laying ceremony for Palestines killed in Israeli airstrikes. Corbyn’s connection with Hamas has been questioned several times. Corbyn has visited Hamas leaders several times in the past and has even invited seniors members of the group to parliament.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Corbyn for his statement: “Jeremy Corbyn, here is a free piece of advice: if Hamas is thanking you then you’re on the side of terrorism,” The Sun reported.