Ismail Haniyeh, head of the movement’s Politburo, sounded the warning on Thursday, the 20th day of a relentless war by the regime against the coastal sliver that has so far claimed more than 7,000 lives.
“Indeed, today the region has turned into a hot plate,” Haniyeh added.
The Hamas official, however, also declared, “On the 20th day of this war, we affirm that the resistance in Gaza is doing well.”
The regime launched the war after Hamas and its fellow Gaza-based resistance movement of the Islamic Jihad launched their biggest operation against Israel in years in a surprise offensive, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, in response to the occupying regime’s intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.
Around 1,500 Israeli forces and illegal settlers were killed in the operation and hundreds of others were taken captive.
“It has been 20 days that, led by al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas’ military wing), the resistance has kept up its strikes, protected its borders, and sent across its message in blood,” Haniyeh stated.
“The occupation will not be able to recover due to the strategic strike and resounding defeat it suffered,” he continued.
“The current movement should not stop here, and the al-Aqsa Storm should continue for the sake of the future generations of the resistance forces,” Haniyeh said, adding, “This battle will change the course of history and will move towards achieving the highest goals of this people, who have suffered from historical injustice.”
The Hamas leader stressed the resistance was a “national liberation movement”, while “terrorism is the occupier and those who support it and remain silent about massacres”.
Haniyeh, meanwhile, addressed Tel Aviv’s plunging Gaza into a humanitarian crisis by blocking water, food, and electricity to the besieged territory since the onset of the warfare.
“I call for the opening of all crossings, especially the Rafah crossing, and the entry of everything Gaza needs without restrictions or conditions,” he said, adding, “We call for the speedy delivery of everything Gaza needs, and it is unacceptable for the enemy to control what should enter the strip.”
