Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, told fellow Arab countries on Saturday that Israel cannot provide them with any protection despite recent diplomatic rapprochments. In a televised speech, Haniyeh addressed the Arab countries that have normalised ties with Israel in recent years.
“We say to all countries, including our Arab brothers, that this entity, which cannot protect itself in the face of resistors, cannot provide you with any protection,” he said.”All the normalization agreements that you signed with that entity cannot resolve this (Palestinian) conflict.”In 2020, Israel reached normalisation with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and upgraded ties with Morocco and Sudan, despite talks with the Palestinians being frozen for years. Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Israel are also engaged in US-mediated talks to normalise relations, a prospect that drew condemnation from some Palestinian factions.
Haniyeh claimed the group was on the “verge of a great victory”. “Enough is enough, the cycle of intifadas (uprisings) and revolutions in the battle to liberate our (Palestinian) land and our prisoners languishing in occupation (Israeli) prisons must be completed,” he said.
“We say to all countries, including our Arab brothers, that this entity, which cannot protect itself in the face of resistors, cannot provide you with any protection,” he said.”All the normalization agreements that you signed with that entity cannot resolve this (Palestinian) conflict.”In 2020, Israel reached normalisation with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and upgraded ties with Morocco and Sudan, despite talks with the Palestinians being frozen for years. Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Israel are also engaged in US-mediated talks to normalise relations, a prospect that drew condemnation from some Palestinian factions.
Haniyeh claimed the group was on the “verge of a great victory”. “Enough is enough, the cycle of intifadas (uprisings) and revolutions in the battle to liberate our (Palestinian) land and our prisoners languishing in occupation (Israeli) prisons must be completed,” he said.
Explained: Who are Hamas and why they hate Israel, know in 190 seconds
The leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza by Israel and neighbouring Egypt, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at Al Aqsa – the disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount – increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and growth of settlements. He said the attack was only the start of what he called “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm”.
