Mohamad Hisham Khalifeh, the editor of Al Forqan newspaper in Windsor, Ontario, posted on his Facebook page two poems in support of Hamas and its military wing Al-Qassam Brigades.
Mohamad Hisham Khalifeh (محمد هشام خليفة) is the Editor and Managing Director of Al Forqan (الفرقان) newspaper based in Windsor, Ontario, and a poet.
In 2012 and 2014, Khalifeh wrote two poems in support of Hamas and its military wing Al-Qassam Brigades. On November 27, 2012, Canada designated Hamas and Al-Qassam Brigades as terrorist groups.
On August 20, 2014, Mohamad Hisham Khalifeh posted on his Facebook page the poem, “Fire a Rocket” (originally in Arabic):
#We are all Hamas
A new poem dedicated to the sons of Gaza and Palestine “Fire a Rocket”
We will never submit, we will never kneel – Turn the words of your pen into a cannon
O [Al] Qassam [Brigades] fire a rocket – Remove the injustice from our [Islamic] nation
O my homeland, your night has been long – And we have rulers who do not hear
They [Arab rulers] robbed the nations and plundered them – They have stomachs that cannot feel full
They say, we condemn, we denounce – And the enemy [Israel] kills babies
O [Al] Qassam [Brigades] fire a rocket – Make the Zionist enter his bedroom [for shelter]
The falsehood has no longer an appearance – There is no authority to bring about peace
The night of injustice disappeared below the horizon – and it is the time of the truth to shine.
And to Gaza I give salute – You [Gaza] are a source of pride
Al-Quds O the passion of mankind – One day I will visit you and humble myself before you
With the arms of the best of peoples – It will be liberated, we will return, it is a promise [of Allah]
O [Al] Qassam [Brigades] fire a rocket – Remove the injustice from our [Islamic] nation
On November 18, 2012, Mohamad Hisham Khalifeh posted on his Facebook page the poem “Gaza” (originally in Arabic):
[O] Grand-kids [descendants] of the [Omar] Al-Mukhtar, [this] poem is dedicated to the Mujahideen [fighters in the name of Allah] of Gaza and Palestine. We ask Allah to give them victory [support] and to set firm their feet. I hope you like it. [Link to a YouTube video featuring Hamas operatives firing rockets at Israel and undergoing military training while Mohamad Hisham Khalifeh reciting the lyrics of the poem “Gaza”].
Gaza
Fire [at Israel]
Fire because you are courageous
Fire because you are the typhoon
Show them your bravery, raise your head, show them the descendants of the [Caliph Omar] al-Mukhtar [conqueror of Jerusalem]
Break your shackle, show your sword, destroy the siege imposed on you
Destroy the brutal Zion [Israel]
Destroy the foundations of the morally corrupt people
Destroy the hostile enemy
Shake the thrones of the infidels [disbelievers]
O Palestinian, do not compromise
Remove the disgrace of your [Muslim] nation
O Palestinian, O fighter
You are a freeman made of steel
Fire because you are courageous
Fire because you are the typhoon
Show them your bravery, raise your head.
Show them the descendants of the [Caliph Omar] al-Mukhtar [conqueror of Jerusalem]