DaysofPal- Hamas’ acting Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya said in an interview with Al-Aqsa TV released on Wednesday that there would be no prisoners swap deal with Israel unless the ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip comes to an end.
Starved, Besieged, and Displaced
Speaking to Al-Aqsa TV Channel, the Hamas leader said that the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip crossed all red lines and modern-day barbarism.
The Israeli occupation revealed its true ugly face, which it has tried to hide and whitewash for more than 75 years, he added.
Al-Hayya further noted that “the Israeli occupation is working to displace all the people of Gaza by targeting all aspects of life there.”
“The enemy targets the entire Palestinian existence with one goal, which is to empty Gaza of its people and displace the Palestinian people to achieve its dreams of building a Jewish state on all of Palestine.”
Al-Hayya pointed out that the Israeli occupation has already started implementing the Generals’ Plan by dividing the Gaza Strip’s northern and southern areas.
“Israeli occupation has launches unprecedented attack on North Gaza, starving and besieging thousands of people who chose to remain in their houses.”
“The south of the Strip, however, is not better off; Rafah is now almost uninhabited, as the occupation completely controls it, and any Palestinian who approaches northern Rafah is killed immediately.”
“This aggression destroyed the entire southern border region, including more than 500 meters on the Egyptian border deep in Rafah, and is now working to expand the Netzarim axis with the aim of protecting its forces from the valiant resistance.”
“The enemy is practicing systematic killings and starvation and refuses to provide treatment or even vaccinations for children in the northern Gaza Strip. Our Palestinian people are being subjected to the most heinous forced displacement and ethnic cleansing operations.”
Al-Hayya refuted Israeli claims of 250 trucks entering the Gaza Strip daily, saying that Israeli occupation is controlling the entry of humanitarian and relief aid, preventing trade altogether in October and November, and closing the Rafah crossing since May 7.
Heroic Steadfastness
On the other hand, al-Hayya hailed the Palestinian people’s heroic steadfastness everywhere, especially in the Gaza Strip.
“The Israeli occupation continues its aggression against all Palestinian areas in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and 1948 Palestine,” he said, stressing that this aggression targets the entire Palestinian people by bombing hospitals, civilians, women, children, and the elderly, with the aim of emptying Gaza of its people.
Al-Hayya denounced the robbery of aid in the southern Gaza Strip, emphasizing that the occupation supports these operations and that the bandits are resposnible for the deaths of their people.
In this regard, he praised the efforts made by the security and popular authorities to control this chaos.
Resistance Is Fine
Al-Hayya stressed that the Palestinian resistance is still fighting with all its strength and steadfastness, saying that all resistance factions are engaged in defending Gaza and the Palestinian people.
The resistance is still active in the northern Gaza Strip, he continued, and Israeli confessions show that it has killed over 30 Israeli soldiers there.
No Prisoners Swap Deal Unless Gaza War Ends
On the other hand, al-Hayya said that there would be no prisoners swap deal with Israel unless the war in the Palestinian enclave ended.
“Without an end to the war, there can be no prisoner swap,” al-Hayya emphasized, reiterating the group’s position on how to bring the war to an end.
“If the aggression is not ended, why would the resistance and in particular Hamas, return the prisoners (hostages)?” he said. “How would a sane or an insane person lose a strong card he owns while the war is continuing?”
Al-Hayya said there are “ongoing calls with mediating countries” regarding negotiations and said the group is ready to engage in talks.
He blamed PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for faltering talks, saying the Israeli prime minister has been stalling for “political reasons”.
“There are contacts under way with some countries and mediators to revive this file (negotiation). We are ready to continue with those efforts but it is more important to see a real will on the side of the occupation to end the aggression,” said Hayya.
“The reality proves that Netanyahu is the one who undermines it (negotiations),” he added.
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