The Islamic Resistance Movement-Hamas on Sunday strongly deplores the statements made by Ambassador-at-Large at the US State Department Nathan Sales about the head of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh’s visit to Lebanon and his scathing attack and designation of the movement as a terrorist organization.

It added that it is a direct incitement against Hamas and its leaders that the US administration should be fully responsible for its consequences and repercussions.

"We reiterate that Hamas is a Palestinian national liberation movement defending the freedom and rights of its people in the face of a racist Zionist occupation; this right is guaranteed by all divine legislation and international laws," the movement added.

Moreover, it emphasized that the actual terrorism has been practiced by Israel against Palestinians for more than 70 years; the US political, military and financial cover for the Israeli occupation is a direct incentive of this terrorism.

"We call on the US administration to reverse its bullying and double-standard policy and respect international law and our people’s right to liberation and freedom."