Ismail Haniyeh, a senior leader of Hamas, recently gave a speech in which he called for “financial Jihad” to support the terrorist group’s war effort against Israel as the war in Gaza continues.

Haniyeh’s comments come amid a bloody war that the terrorist group started when it launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The speech, which was delivered at the International Union of Muslim Scholars conference in Doha, Qatar, illustrated the need for more support coming from donors across the globe.

The [Islamic] nation has an important role. The scholars of our nation have a pivotal role, on two fronts: The first front is supporting the resistance. Brothers and sisters, the whole world is pouring weapons on the occupation. The whole world is not afraid to do so. There are air bridges from multiple capital cities which reach the occupation, as well as aircraft, and so on and so forth. This has become an individual obligatory [Islamic] duty, which we must perform.

The Hamas leader also explained that “there is verbal Jihad, which is Jihad by the tongue” and that “the time has come for Jihad of the swords.”

Haniyeh appeared to reference the United States’ seemingly changed stance on its support for Israel as it seeks to eradicate Hamas.

Time is on our side. At the beginning of this aggression, the Americans were waving a big stick in the face of the world, and even in the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities in some European countries—some of their prominent Palestinian or Arab figures were summoned and were told not to raise the Palestinian flag or do anything. But the language of the same countries has now changed. Why has it changed? Because of the [Palestinian] steadfastness. Were it not for this steadfastness, the conscience of the world would have been crushed. Brothers, we should build on this steadfastness. We should hold on to the victory that took place on October 7 and build upon it.

He went on to suggest that Islamic scholars can “establish groups and delegations on multiple levels” that would “meet the officials of the countries in which they live” and “even lead the masses [in protests].”

The terrorist leader called for supporters to donate money to the cause. “Let us call this ‘financial Jihad.’ The Islamic nation does not make ‘donations,’” he said.

Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh: We Should Hold on to the Moment of the Victory of October 7 and Build Upon It; Time Is on Our Side; Donations to Gaza Are Not “Humanitarian Aid” but “Financial Jihad” #Qatar #Hamas #Palestinians #Jihad pic.twitter.com/kZ9MluYhZb

— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) January 10, 2024

Haniyeh’s speech comes as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched strikes that have killed several key Hamas figures. This includes the killing of a top commander in Beirut, Lebanon, in a drone strike and the elimination of another who participated in the October 7^th attack.

The terrorist leader’s comments could reflect an acknowledgment that Hamas is in dire straits, having taken a beating by the IDF. While Israel has withdrawn thousands of troops from the region, it is still bent on destroying the terrorist organization and recent developments suggest its military is making significant progress.