25-04-2024 07:54 PM Jerusalem Timing

Hamas Official Calls Palestinians to Self-Defense

Hamas Official Calls Palestinians to Self-Defense

Head of political bureau of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, Kaled Meshaal, called on all Palestinian resistance groups to defend themselves.

Palestine: head of Hamas political bureau, Khaled MeshaalHead of political bureau of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, Kaled Meshaal, called on all Palestinian resistance groups to defend themselves as they face increasing pressure from Zionist airstrikes and a possible ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking from Doha, Qatar, where he is based, Meshaal told a TV channel that he was rejecting prospects of a ceasefire with the Zionist entity, blaming the occupation for starting the tit-for-tat rocket attacks.

"The Palestinian people have the right to resist and defend themselves," he said.

"The West wants a ceasefire. First Netanyahu should cease his aggression, halt the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem, stop arresting Palestinians and end the occupation," he added.

"We won two wars before, because God is with us. Even if we have to do it alone, we will defend our land. We are not making threats, but self-defense is our right," said Meshaal.

Calling the Arab world to stand with Palestine, Meshaal warned the Zionists that Netanyahu was only leading them to defeat after defeat.

The Zionist occupation army launched an ongoing wide-scale operation in the Gaza Strip since late Monday, killing at least 75 and wounding over 530 with hundreds of airstrikes.

Ahead of the operation, the Zionist government approved the deployment of 40,000 ground troops on the Strip's border for a possible ground assault.

According to Palestinian security sources, Zionist warplanes have conducted more than 770 strikes against Gaza targets during the same period.

Gaza-based resistance factions, meanwhile, have continued to fire rockets into the Occupied Territories in response to the unrelenting airstrikes.