Head of Palestinian resistance group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday against any military “adventure” in the Gaza Strip ahead of Israeli elections next month.
Netanyahu is currently battling for re-election for a fifth term, facing a tough challenge from a centrist political alliance as well as a planned indictment on corruption charges.
Asked about a potential Israeli military operation, Haniyeh told journalists: “If the (Israeli) occupation or Netanyahu think of an adventure, I think they will pay the price that will send them away.”
“We do not fear any adventures from Netanyahu towards Gaza… The resistance has its eyes open,” Haniyeh told reporters.
Meanwhile, he revealed that Egypt is launching a new round of mediation to secure a cease-fire between the Hamas and the Zionist entity.
Haniyeh accused Tel Aviv of “opting out of short and long term understandings” aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
Hamas leader noted that last year the Zionist entity and Hamas reached understandings for Israel to extend Gaza’s fishing zone, increase the territory’s electricity supply and allow cash into Gaza for Hamas public servants.
But he said a botched Israeli undercover raid in Gaza last fall undermined understandings on broader issues “as if they never existed.”
Hamas expects Egyptian mediators to arrive this week to restart reconciliation efforts.
Source: Agencies
