Hamas Vows Harsh Response to Israeli Aggression
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, warned that any Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip will cause dire consequences for Tel Aviv.
“In case of any military operation against the Gaza Strip, the resistance movement will teach a lesson to the Zionist regime (of Israel) even harsher than the 8-day war,” Representative of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement in Tehran Khaled Qadoumi told the Tasnim News Agency on Monday.
Asked about the Israeli regimes threats against Gaza, the Palestinian official said, “Unfortunately, they (Israelis) think that Gaza is an easy target. But (the fact is that) Gaza is fully prepared to confront Israel and the resistance movement will give a response proportionate to the scale of Israeli strikes… The resistance has prepared necessary gears to stun the Israeli regime."
He also pointed to a possible Israeli military operation against the Gaza Strip, describing the move as an attempt to avert “political bankruptcy.”
This came shortly after Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for reoccupation of the besieged Gaza Strip as Israeli military forces are gearing up for a possible major offensive on the coastal enclave.
The Israeli radio quoted Lieberman as saying on Sunday that it is time for Tel Aviv to decide about conquering the coastal territory.
His comments come amid reports that the Israeli military is preparing for an all-out war on the impoverished territory.
According to some intelligence sources, Israeli armored brigades have been instructed to get ready to join the army’s Gaza Division, Press TV reported.
On Saturday, the Israeli regime carried out multiple airstrikes on the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, injuring two Palestinians. Another two Palestinians were wounded after Israeli tanks shelled the tiny coastal enclave later.
Meanwhile, in a retaliatory attack, multiple rockets launched from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel and wounded several people there. One of the rockets hit a paint factory in the industrial district of the city of Sderot, and set it on fire.
At least two Palestinians were also killed and several others injured in an Israeli drone strike against on Gaza on Friday.
Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.
