Between December 12-14, 2014, Hamas held rallies, a large military parade and marches in the Gaza Strip to mark the 27th anniversary of the founding of the terrorist organization.

At the end of the military parade (Sunday, 14 December), Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, gave a speech in which he praised Iran, thanking it for the weapons, funds, missiles and other aid which contributed to Hamas "victory" in the conflict with Israel this summer (Operation Protective Edge).

Following are translated excerpts from Abu Ubaida's speech in Arabic:

"Since Allah graced us with this development [of the Al-Qassam Brigades], and with this victory and this humiliation of the enemy, we have only to thank those whom Allah enlisted  to take part in this development... first and foremost the Islamic Republic of Iran, which did not withhold from us funds, weapons and other [forms of aid] and helped us in our resistance by supplying us with missiles that pulverized the Zionist strongholds during the attacks and battles we waged against the occupier, and also supplied us with quality anti-tank missiles that crushed the legendary Zionist Merkava [tank].

MEMRI: Pictures of the parade and rallies, as well as additional excerpts from speeches by senior Hamas officials.