GAZA, (PIC)
Hamas said the Israeli cabinet’s approval of plans to expand its ground operation in Gaza “is a clear decision to abandon Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip and repeat the cycle of failure that began 18 months ago, without achieving any of its stated goals.”
In a press statement on Tuesday, Hamas pointed out that the statements made by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, confirm his determination to commit more war crimes against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip under full US cover.
It stressed that the “Palestinian people and their resistance, who with their steadfastness and determination defeated Herzi Halevi (former chief of staff) and his criminal plans, will not be intimidated by the threats and plans of Eyal Zamir (the new chief of staff).”
“We are the owners of this land and we will remain on it, no matter how long the fascist occupation continues its aggression,” Hamas said.
It called on Arab and Islamic countries, the international community, the UN and its institutions to “shoulder their responsibilities and take immediate action to rein in the fascist occupation government, curb its brutal crimes against our people, and work to bring its leaders to international justice.”
It called on the Arab and Islamic peoples and free people in all countries and capitals to activate and intensify the popular movement to stop the aggression against the Gaza Strip, “stand by our people’s legitimate right to freedom on their land, end the occupation, and achieve self-determination.”
On Monday, Israel’s mini-cabinet unanimously approved the expansion of the military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Channel 13 quoted informed sources as saying that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned the political leadership of the repercussions of expanding the ground operation on the lives of captives in Gaza, adding that he pointed to the problem of setting two conflicting war objectives, namely the return of prisoners and what he described as the “defeat” of Hamas.
The families of Israeli prisoners in Gaza and a number of Israeli officials, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, criticized the Gaza war expansion decision, amid calls for reaching a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, even if it meant ending the war.
