Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Hayya, said that the Palestinian resistance has the capabilities to withstand days, weeks and months in the current war, stressing the necessity of a comprehensive ceasefire and the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza before talking about a prisoner exchange.
Al-Hayya confirmed – during an interview with Al-Jazeera – that the movement wants to stop the aggression and then go to reconstruction and construction, and then open the prisoner exchange file. He noted that the next day in Gaza “is a victory, and whoever thinks beyond Hamas is thinking about an illusion.”
He pointed out that it is unreasonable to conclude an exchange deal with Israel under fire, stressing Hamas’ readiness to conclude a comprehensive exchange deal, and reiterated the movement’s position that the exchange file is closed until the aggression stops.
He added that “Hamas is difficult to respond to threats under pressure, and what concerns us today is stopping the aggression and this crazy war.”
Field developments
Regarding field developments, Al-Hayya said: “The resistance is fine, steadfast, and capable of inflicting more losses on the enemy in personnel and equipment.” He added, “The enemy is not at peace, neither in Gaza, nor in Khan Yunis, nor in the north, nor in any area in the Gaza Strip.”
He stressed that the Palestinian people “will not raise the flag and will remain steadfast in their land and embrace their resistance, even though they are subjected to barbaric, Nazi, and cruel attacks everywhere.”
He continued by saying that “nothing will stop us from defending our people except the liberation of our land and our sanctities,” pointing out that “the Al-Aqsa flood came in response to the attack on our sanctities, the disdain for the Palestinian people, the turning away from their rights, and the attempt to liquidate their cause.”
He stressed that Hamas clearly wants the unity of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and stressed that the future of Gaza is linked to the future of Jerusalem and all of Palestine, “as it is one unit and whoever decides the government is our people.”
Aid file
As for humanitarian and relief aid, Al-Hayya said that bringing in 100 trucks a day is not enough at all to provide relief to the besieged Gaza Strip, and noted that Gaza “needs hundreds of trucks every day to provide relief to our people who are suffering now.”
He stressed that Hamas is part of the Palestinian people and has opened every door to increasing aid, noting that Arab and Islamic countries can force the occupation to bring aid into Gaza.
He also pointed to talk about opening the Kerem Shalom crossing – a border crossing between Egypt, the Gaza Strip and Israel -, stressing that Hamas wants to bring in 500 aid trucks daily.
He paid tribute to all the nation and the peoples of the free world who are roaming the streets denouncing the aggression, as well as the resistance in Lebanon, which occupies the occupation army on the northern front, and in Iraq for its positions in support of the Palestinian resistance.
He specifically thanked the Ansar Allah Houthi group in Yemen, saying that they changed the equation after the operations to seize ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and asked them to continue on this path.