The Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip confirmed – today, Saturday – that the Palestinian resistance continues with all its strength and with all its wings as a legitimate right of the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, during the anniversary of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation that occurred on October 7. The first is 2023. She also stressed that the resistance is in good condition, and enjoys high and continuous coordination on various fronts and fighting axes.
In their statement, the factions paid tribute to the Palestinian people and their valiant resistance, and praised their legendary steadfastness in the face of the Israeli occupation plans that aimed to obliterate “the Palestinian identity and erase its existence.”
The Palestinian resistance in Gaza launched Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” against the Israeli occupation at dawn on October 7, 2023, and included a land, sea and air attack and the infiltration of the resistance into several settlements around the Gaza Strip.
The factions said that the Palestinian people are the only ones who have the right to self-determination after the end of the war, and that this issue is “only discussed at the Palestinian table,” stressing the rejection of any external interference.
No deal without complete withdrawal
Regarding the Palestinian demands, the factions made it clear that there will be no agreement or deal unless a set of conditions are met, most notably stopping the Israeli aggression, complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, opening the crossings, lifting the unjust siege, and moving forward with the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the war. It also called for the completion of a serious prisoner exchange deal that includes the release of Palestinian prisoners in occupation prisons.
As part of their support for the resistance in the West Bank and Jerusalem, the factions called on the Palestinian people in all the occupied territories to escalate comprehensive resistance, especially armed resistance, and to participate more widely in the battle of the “Al-Aqsa Flood.”
The factions affirmed their categorical rejection of any attempts to impose an alternative administration in Gaza outside the scope of the Palestinian national consensus, indicating that these attempts will be dealt with in the same way as dealing with the occupation.
The factions called on the Arab and Islamic peoples to take “immediate and urgent” action in all squares, cities and capitals, target the interests of the occupation and its supporters, and put pressure to stop the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and hold the occupation accountable for its crimes.
At the conclusion of the statement, the factions expressed their deep appreciation for the positions of the Palestinian people and their living national components that reject the occupation’s projects and plans.
Diplomatic attempts continue to present proposals aimed at ending the devastating war on the Gaza Strip and exchanging prisoners with Israel. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to impose new conditions that hinder these efforts.
Among the conditions proposed by Israel is the insistence on continuing Israeli control over the Philadelphia border axis between Gaza and Egypt and the Rafah crossing, in addition to preventing the return of Palestinian faction fighters to northern Gaza through careful inspection of those returning through the Netzarim corridor. The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) categorically rejects these conditions and demands a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a comprehensive cessation of the war before agreeing to any agreement.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Mossad chief David Barnea warned that these conditions could lead to a long postponement of any potential deal.
Since the start of the Israeli aggression on October 7, 2023, Gaza has been subjected to a genocide that has so far left more than 138,000 martyrs and wounded, most of them children and women. In addition to more than 10,000 missing people, amid massive infrastructure destruction and severe shortages of food and water.