The families of the martyred leaders of the Al-Quds Brigades.
By Al Mayadeen English
Families of martyred Al-Quds Brigades leaders speak to Al Mayadeen Online from Gaza about their resistance heritage.
The families of the martyred leaders of the Al-Quds Brigades, who were martyred in the recent aggression on the Gaza Strip, spoke to Al Mayadeen Online about the resistance legacy planted by the martyrs in their spirits, the resistance, and the Palestinian people.
The leaders’ families reiterated that they would continue on the Resistance path until victory is achieved and Palestine is liberated, adding that losing the leaders as martyrs would increase the resistance’s “tenacity, defiance, and determination to strike back at the enemy.”
‘He was compassionate towards people.. that’s what pushed him to fight’: martyr Tareq Ezzedine’s friend
The liberated Palestinian prisoner, Ramez al-Halabi, a friend of the martyred leader in the al-Quds Brigades, Tareq Ezzedine, confirmed in his interview with Al Mayadeen Online that the leader was able to contribute to shaping resistance in the West Bank, especially by establishing the Jenin battalion and its different branches.
He pointed out that the martyr had “a transparent human spirit and was compassionate towards his people and family,” stressing that his “humane qualities are what pushed him to fight for the people.”
‘He desperately wished for martyrdom’: martyr Jihad Ghannam’s son
Mohammad Ghannam, son of the Al-Quds Brigades martyr, Jihad Ghannam, told Al Mayadeen Online that his father was subjected to several assassination attempts while fighting the Israeli occupation.
As a result of several attempts, he once lost his legs, then one of his arms, and in another attempt, he lost his hearing in one of his ears. The martyr’s son stressed that his father desperately wished for martyrdom.
He affirmed that his family was satisfied with the resistance’s response and its courage in fighting, stressing that the resistance was not negatively affected by its loss of leaders during the battle, considering it a “privilege.”
Martyr Ali Ghali believed that ‘Resistance is a right and duty’
During her interview with Al Mayadeen Online, the mother of the martyred member of the PIJ’s Military Council and commander of the missile force in the Al-Quds Brigades, Ali Ghali, expressed her pride that the martyr leaders obtained the martyrdom they wished for.
The martyr’s daughter, Yasmin Ghali, considered that her father’s martyrdom, along with the many leaders does not weaken the resistance, nor does it stop its path, stressing that they will be succeeded by hundreds who will defend the homeland and sanctities.
The martyr’s daughter asserted that her father had a positive influence on the family because of his good morals and history of resistance and that he always saw resistance as a right and duty for everyone, viewing the next generation as the liberators of Palestine.
The second part of Al Mayadeen’s online interviews with the families of the martyr leaders comes after it conducted several interviews with the families of the martyr leaders in the Al-Quds Brigades, Iyad Al-Abd Al-Hassani, Ahmad Mahmoud Abu Daqqa, and Khalil Salah Al-Bahtini.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) conducted air raids on the Gaza Strip on May 9th, in which 33 martyrs were killed (including 6 children and 3 women), and 190 were wounded, as a result of the raids that targeted civilian homes and resistance sites in various areas in the Strip.
The Al-Quds Brigades buried a group of its leaders and fighters during the occupation’s aggression on Gaza, among them: the martyr Commander Iyad Al-Abd Al-Hassani, a member of its military council and responsible for its operations unit, the martyred commander Jihad Ghannam, secretary of the military council in the Brigades, and the martyred commander Khalil Salah Al-Bahtini. Commander of the Northern Region, and the martyr Commander Tareq Ezzedine.
Last week, the Palestinian Resistance launched Operation Avenging the Free in response to the five-day Israeli aggression against Gaza that left 33 Palestinian martyrs, including six PIJ commanders, and more than 100 injuries. The aggression ended following an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire.
In response to the brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip for two days in a row, where “Israel” massacred scores of Palestinians, including three Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leaders, the Palestinian Resistance launches Operation Avenging the Free to retaliate the Israeli crimes that did not even spare children or women.
2 Palestinians Killed, and 10 Houses and 1 Apartment Bombed in Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Strip, Death Toll Rises to 33, including 4 Women and 6 Children
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue their widescale aggression on the Gaza Strip, which began at dawn on Tuesday, 09 May 2023. After the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a previous press release, IOF warplanes conducted more airstrikes on residential houses, agricultural lands, sites of the Palestinian armed groups, and others. As a result, 2 members of the Palestinian armed groups were killed, and other Palestinians were wounded. Thus, the death toll since the Israeli aggression started has risen to 33, including 15 civilians, amongst them 6 children and 4 women. According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the number of injuries has risen to 147, including 48 children, 26 women and 10 elderlies. Also, 10 residential houses and a residential apartment were destroyed in Israeli airstrikes, bringing the number of targeted houses and apartments to 24, including 22 completely destroyed. Moreover, a hospital and a healthcare center sustained damage due to nearby airstrikes.
This comes at a time the humanitarian crisis and disruption of public life exacerbate, as schools have been closed and fishing at Gaza Sear has been suspended for the fourth consecutive day, leaving 3500 fishermen without a source of income. Also, due to closure of crossings, movement of Gaza imports and exports has stopped, including the entry of fuel needed for the operation of Gaza Power Plant that is about to run out, forcing the Plant’s administration to turn off one of the three turbines to prolong its working hours and implying that the plant will totally shut down within 72 hours.
The following are the most significant developments:
12 May 2023
At 14:15: IOF warplanes bombed and completely destroyed Sameer Taha’s 2-storey house of 3 apartments in Jablia.
Around the same time, IOF warplanes launched 2 missiles at Ahmed al-Hashash’s asbestos house in northern Rafah. As a result, al-Hashash’s house was completely destroyed in addition to 3 other asbestos houses while a person was injured.
At 15:55: IOF warplanes bombed and completely destroyed Kamal Abu Tair’s 3-storey house of 5 apartments in ‘Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Yunis.
At 16:20: Eyad al-‘Abed al-Hasani (51), a commander of Al-Quds Brigades, and his Deputy, Mohammed Waleed ‘Abed al-‘Aal (33) were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential apartment on the 5th floor of a building in al-Nasser neighborhood in western Gaza City. As a result, the apartment was destroyed and 5 Palestinians, including 2 children, were injured. IOF announced that IOF and Shin Bet (Shabak) killed in a joint targeted operation Eyad al-Hasani, head of the Palestinian Islamic ‘s (PIJ) operations unit at, along with another operative.
Around the same time, IOF warplanes launched 2 missiles at Hussain Ma’rouf’s 3-storey house of 4 apartments in Beit Lahia, destroying it completely.
At 20:30: IOF warplanes bombed and completely destroyed a 5-storey house belonging to Mohammad Yassin in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood.
At 20:35: IOF warplanes launched two missiles at a house belonging to Yehya Abo ‘Obeid behind the southern side of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. As a result, the house was completely destroyed while the Hospital sustained partial damage as well as the Ministry of Health (MOH)’s Ambulance and Emergency building, that is 100 meters away from it. Also, 10 Palestinians, including 2 children and 4 women, were injured; among them three were injured inside the hospital, including an ill child.
Moreover, as a result of recurrent airstrikes on nearby lands, MOH’s Muscat Primary HealthCare Center sustained partial damage. The Center is comprised of 2 floors and a basement on an area of 1500 sqm and houses other departments including South Central Ambulance Department serving the Rafah and Khan Yunis areas and is located in Gizan Al-Najjar area. MOH has also announced the evacuation of the ambulance station and referring all its services to Nasser Medical Complex, following the damage inflicted to the Center and breakdown of the communications network.
13 May 2022:
At 01:30: IOF warplanes bombed a 3-storey house belonging to Salim Hasan Abu Al-‘Ata in eastern Shuja’iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza, extensively destroying two floors, and injuring one person.
At 03:00: IOF warplanes bombed and completely destroyed a 5-storey house belonging to Hazem Muhanna on Yarmouk Street, north of Gaza City.
At 10:05: IOF warplanes launched 2 missiles at a 3-storey house belonging to Faraj Banat housing 3 apartments near Beit Lahiya roundabout. As a result, 2 women were injured, and the house was completely destroyed.
At 11:45: IOF warplanes launched two missiles at a 3-storey house belonging to Al-Za’anin family and housing 6 apartments in Beit Hanoun. As a result, the house was completely destroyed.
PCHR strongly condemns the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip and warns of any further losses of civilian life and damage to civilian property, urging the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take serious action into the situation of Palestine.
PCHR reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfil their obligations as per Common Article 1 of the Convention, “undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances,” and their obligations under Article 146 of the same Conventions, i.e., to hold accountable persons accused of committing grave breaches of the Convention.
The Palestinian Resistance is able to strike any Israeli settlement is wants to using its homemade rockets, PIJ chief Ziyad Al-Nakhaleh said.
The rocket that hit “Tel Aviv” and reached occupied Al-Quds during Operation Avenging the Free has a range that covers all of occupied Palestine, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Ziyad Al-Nakhaleh, said Tuesday.
“The rocket that struck Tel Aviv and reached Al-Quds […] is the brainchild of the experienced specialists working in Al-Quds Brigades,” the PIJ’s military wing, Al-Nakhaleh said.
Al-Nakhalah said Friday that “Tel Aviv” and other settlements of the Zionist entity “are within the range of our rockets and the bullets of our fighters.”
During a speech at the festival commemorating the martyrs of Operation Avenging the Free in the city of Saida, south Lebanon, Al-Nakhalah said, “We meet today to honor a great group of martyrs and leaders who were killed in the treacherous aggression and to honor the two martyrs, Commander Khader Adnan and Commander Ali Al-Aswad, and everyone who ascended to martyrdom in Operation Avenging the Free.”
“The martyrdom of the commanders of Al-Quds Brigades did not cause any disruption in the movement’s military structure,” the PIJ chief underlined.
“The deputies of the slain commanders assumed responsibility immediately after the martyrdom,” the Palestinian Resistance leader revealed.
“The Islamic Jihad movement in the last battle was in a better position than any previous battles,” he told a press conference.
Furthermore, he threatened to “bomb the heart of the Zionist entity and its cities if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dares to target Islamic Jihad commanders in other areas.”
Commenting on the Israeli occupation’s provocative Flag March, Al-Nakhaleh underlined that the Israeli occupation’s actions must be dealt with, stressing that “Al-Quds is an occupied city, and we must resist and fight for its liberation.”
He also commented on the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement deal, saying it brought the region back to its natural status quo, adding that there would be positive repercussions for the Palestinian cause.
“Iran’s support for the Palestinian Resistance is unconditional. We do not have oil or military bases to offer them,” he said, adding that normalization was a great treason, and the Arab people are required to aid the Palestinian people in their steadfastness and Resistance.
In the wake of the Palestinian resistance declaring its victory in Operation Avenging the Free, Al-Nakhalah thanked all those who stood by the resistance, “led by the Islamic Republic in Iran, Hezbollah, and our brothers in Egypt and Qatar.”
Al-Nakhalah pointed out that despite “all the difficult circumstances and the imbalance of military power in favor of the enemy, our people are still fighting,” adding, “We have steadfastly and patiently fought major battles in defense of our identity and adherence to our rights, and our cause has remained alive.”
The PIJ chief considered that the occupation wanted to cast a shadow “over our cause with politics and wars, but today we stand stronger and more determined to adhere to our rights and Al-Quds.”
The Israeli occupation launched a five-day aggression against the Gaza Strip earlier in May, targeting residential houses in the north, center, and south of the Strip.
In retaliation, Al-Quds Brigades and the Palestinian Resistance factions launched Operation Avenging the Free, in which it fired advanced rockets and missiles that bypassed the Iron Dome and targeted several Israeli settlements, occupied cities, and occupation sites.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians killed in the aggression rose to 33 martyrs, including six children and three women, and 147 people were wounded.
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Despite Israel’s assassinations of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s high-ranking commanders during this latest battle, the Quds Brigades was able to shift strategy by expanding its missile range, launching over 1,500 missiles, and introducing new tactics in its retaliatory strikes.
In its latest act of aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip, Israel dealt a severe blow to the resistance movement Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). High-ranking commanders, including the majority of the members of the group’s military council in Gaza, were assassinated in rapid succession during the battle.
These targeted killings sought to weaken the PIJ’s leadership structure and disrupt the organization’s command and control. However, despite these setbacks, the PIJ pulled some new tricks out of its hat, managing to expand the range of its missile strikes, which reached as far as Tel Aviv.
To gain a deeper understanding of these strategic PIJ developments and its advancements in retaliatory strikes, it is important to examine two significant past military operations: “Black Belt” (2019) and “Breaking Dawn” or “Unity of Fronts” (2022).
Learning from the past
Those two battles were triggered by the killing of prominent leaders in the PIJ’s military wing, the Quds Brigades, which appears to have further emboldened Israeli occupation forces in their policy of targeted assassinations. From Israel’s perspective, the perceived political gains outweighed the costs incurred during these two rounds of conflict.
In November 2019, following the assassination of Quds Brigades commander Baha Abu al-Ata, the fighters responded recklessly without proper planning. Rocket launchers were emotionally fired immediately after the assassination, making the missile unit vulnerable to Israeli detection.
As a result, the Quds Brigades suffered significant losses, with around 27 missile force staff members, including three field commanders, being killed. This battle also had a secondary, more dangerous consequence: It established an Israeli policy of singling out a specific resistance group, leaving the PIJ to face their fate alone without the participation of other key resistance elements like Hamas.
During the 2022 “Unity of Fronts” battle, a similar fate befell the Quds Brigades following the arrest of PIJ leader Bassam al-Saadi. Although they fired over 400 rockets at Israeli settlements in retaliation and employed improved tactics compared to the previous battle, Palestinian public opinion fell victim to Israeli propaganda.
The Israelis’ narrative portrayed the PIJ as endangering the lives of two million people in the Gaza Strip – and neglecting the plight of 4,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails – for the purpose of securing the freedom of just one person. Furthermore, when some errant rockets fell in Gaza due to technical errors, doubts were raised about the PIJ’s ability to successfully wage war independently.
Trying new tactics
But on 9 May, a significant shift occurred in the conflict. Despite the initial heavy blow from Israel’s first strike, which resulted in the loss of three prominent PIJ leaders – Khalil al-Bahtini, Tariq Ezz al-Din, and Jihad Ghanem – the movement’s response was purposefully delayed for approximately 35 hours.
This unusual stalling tactic confused Israeli calculations. During the brief lull, discussions were held between the PIJ, Hamas, and other resistance factions to ensure coordination and readiness for the upcoming fight. On 10 May, “Operation Revenge of the Free” was launched, as announced by this Joint Operations Room.
The PIJ’s initial missile response unfolded in three stages. The first stage employed a “dumping and neutralization” tactic, focusing on Israeli settlements bordering the Gaza Strip within a 15-kilometer range. These targets included Sderot, Nahal Oz, Nativ Ha’atsarah, and Kerem Shalom.
The resistance’s aim was to first deplete the batteries of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Following this, missile barrages were launched at about 30 cities, reaching depths of 20 to 75 kilometers into Israeli territory. Targets included Ashkelon, Ashdod, Beersheba, and extended all the way to Tel Aviv, Rishon Lezion, and Palmachim. By the end of the first day, the Quds Brigades had fired approximately 400 rockets.
Discussions in the joint command center
Amidst these developments, discussions were ongoing in the Joint Operations Room, while reports in the Arab and international media hinted at an imminent ceasefire. Egyptian news channels reported that Cairo’s intelligence efforts had led to a truce agreement between Israel and the Joint Ops Room.
This aligned with the Israeli security establishment’s assessment that the scale of retaliation would not surpass what was witnessed in the 2019 and 2022 rounds. The Israeli assessment viewed the PIJ as incapable of waging a prolonged battle, even with the involvement of smaller military factions such as the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades of the Popular Resistance Committees, The Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the National Resistance Brigades of the Omar al-Qasim Forces, and the Mujahideen Brigades.
Informed sources reveal to The Cradle that Egyptian intelligence did indeed reach an agreement of sorts with the leadership of Hamas, as a representative of the Joint Ops Room, on the first day of the conflict. However, a deal did not take place because it excluded any significant achievements for the Palestinian resistance.
During this time, Egyptian mediators attempted to establish contact with PIJ Secretary General Ziyad al-Nakhala, but he did not respond to the call. Subsequently, a phone conversation took place between Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, and Nakhala. Then, at approximately 7:00 p.m. on 12 May, the Quds Brigades responded to the Egyptian proposal by launching a series of missile strikes targeting Israeli cities.
‘Deterring’ the Resistance
Despite the ongoing and surprising resilience displayed by PIJ, a statement on 14 May by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted that the balance of deterrence had been altered in Israel’s favor:
“Since Guardian of the Walls [Sword of Jerusalem or Sayf al-Quds], Hamas has not fired a single rocket into our territory. They are deterred. Operation Guardian of the Walls dealt Hamas the hardest blow in its history and caused a change in the deterrence equation and it has been working for two years now.”
“Our intention in Operation Shield and Arrow was to change the balance of deterrence against Islamic Jihad. The difference comes not only because of the targeted assassinations that we have been doing for the 16 years that I have been prime minister, but that we did so so calmly and effectively. We took down half of Islamic Jihad’s leadership in a surprise blow, and the other half during the operation.”
Assassinations: A failed policy
Despite the heavy losses suffered in the initial strike, the subsequent days of fighting proved equally devastating. Israel continued its targeted assassinations, eliminating key figures such as the commander of the missile force in the Quds Brigades, Ali Hassan Ghali, and his deputy, Ahmed Abu Daqqa, followed by the assassination of Operations Staff Commander Iyad al-Hassani on the fourth day.
Remarkably, after each targeted killing, the Quds Brigades intensified its missile strikes and introduced new tactics into the battle. This had the effect of shrouding the Israeli ground forces, which had misread the PIJ’s capabilities, in the fog of war.
The Quds Brigades employed tactics such as utilizing suicide drones, anti-tank missiles, and launching intensive mortar attacks. Its intention was clear: to demonstrate through firepower and brute force that the policy of targeted assassinations had not diminished its effectiveness in the field.
Not taking the bait
A source in PIJ tells The Cradle that the Quds Brigades leadership had carefully analyzed the lessons learned from the previous two battles. According to the source, Israel’s objective was to provoke another “emotional reaction” from the Brigades, through heavy firepower. To counter the Israeli tactic, the Brigades have focused on strengthening the discipline of field fighters. “The instructions were clear: do not shoot and wait for orders.”
This discipline led to an expansion of the area of missile launch sites, which reduced the effectiveness of Israel’s technological monitoring of the firing points, and weakened the possibility of identifying and targeting them.
The source explains: “When we decide to launch 50 missiles, we do so from 10 launch points, although we are able to launch them all from one or two points. By doing so, we preserve the safety of fighters and launchers.”
According to Israeli statistics, PIJ alone fired about 1,500 missiles, “which completely paralyzed the cities of the south, and caused the evacuation of 12,000 settlers,” killing an Israeli and a foreign worker, and injuring 77 others, in addition to hundreds of minor injuries and panic attacks.
These numbers, according to Palestinian researcher Ismail Muhammad, show that the PIJ was able, during only a 10-month interim between operations “Unity of the Fronts” and “Revenge of the Free,” to rebuild its missile stockpile and to address all previous technical problems. As Muhammad tells The Cradle:
“Despite the losses at the command level, no significant field losses were recorded. Four field fighters from the artillery unit and the armor unit were martyred, while the losses in the missile unit remained zero.”
“The continued firing of missiles at the same pace until the last moment indicates that that the assassination of the commanders did not affect the effectiveness of the field, and that the Brigades were able to assign new commanders, whom Israel described after the bombing of the city of Jerusalem on the last day as crazier than their predecessors.”
Down but not out
Shortly before the ceasefire took effect, PIJ launched over 120 rockets targeting Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, Palmachim, Rishon Lezion, and Rehovot. This was an attempt by the PIJ to remind Israelis that its military capabilities remained intact and plentiful and that it retained the upper hand, even though the ceasefire deal did not accurately reflect PIJ’s gains on the ground.
During the ceasefire negotiations, the PIJ was successful in persuading mediators to include the phrase “stop targeting individuals” in the agreement, signaling a halt to assassinations. However, it is widely acknowledged that Israel is unlikely to honor this commitment.
The military assessment of Operation Revenge of the Free is that it allowed the Quds Brigades to increase the cost for Israel by singling out PIJ cadres. Despite the loss of six commanders, a source confirms to The Cradle that the Brigades appointed new commanders during the battle who effectively resumed operations without missing a beat.
Predictably, Israel has already deviated from the spirit of a ceasefire by supporting the controversial Flag March of Jewish extremists through East Jerusalem, assisted and emboldened by the presence of 3,200 Israeli security forces. This visceral challenge to Palestinians represents a crucial test not only for PIJ but also for all resistance factions that have pledged to disrupt Israel’s provocative actions in Jerusalem.
The Flag March aims to project a false “image of victory” for Netanyahu and restore Israel’s deterrence – something he failed to achieve during the five-day confrontation with the second most powerful organization in the Gaza Strip in terms of strength and military capabilities, and arguably, the most militant and uncompromising in its armed struggle for national liberation.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of The Cradle.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades – Beit Ummar Rapid Response Group in occupied Al-Khalil – confirmed that it targeted the “Karmei Tzur” illegal settlement with heavy gunfire, adding that its Resistance fighters safely withdrew from the scene.
On Thursday evening, the Israeli Channel 12 reported that Israeli occupation forces arrested a 29-year-old Palestinian youth from Ramallah, under the pretext of attempting to carry out a shooting operation in occupied Al-Quds with an M16 weapon.
Earlier today, a 14-year-old Palestinian child was wounded in the foot and shoulder by Israeli occupation gunfire in the Aida refugee camp in occupied Beit Lahm.
According to local sources, Israeli occupation forces opened fire at a child who was in the Al-Muftah area at the eastern entrance to the Aida camp, where an event to commemorate the Palestinian Nakba was being organized.
In the Gaza Strip, thousands of Palestinians flocked to the Separation Wall on the Gaza border in defiance of the so-called Israeli “Flag March” in occupied Al-Quds.
Thousands of enraged Palestinian protesters demonstrate along the Gaza Strip's borders with the 1948-occupied territories, denouncing today's Israeli extremist 'Flag March' in occupied Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/SVLR6R6gdy
Israeli occupation forces fired a barrage of gas bombs at protesters and journalists at the Malaka refugee camp, east of Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent said four Palestinians were injured, one with live bullets and three with gas bombs, as a result of Israeli occupation attacks.
In Pictures: Angry Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli occupation soldiers on the Gaza Strip's eastern border with the 1948-occupied territories during demonstrations against Israel's extreme-right provocative 'Flag March', today. pic.twitter.com/adEHUOfzKW
Khaled Al-Batsh, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Movement official, told Al Mayadeen, “We assure the Israelis that the battle over Al Quds is still ongoing, and this constitutes an Israeli failure over the past 75 years to enforce a different identity or any sort of sovereignty over Al-Quds.”
Khaled Al-Batsh, member of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Jihad Movement, to #AlMayadeen: "We assure the Israelis that the battle over #AlQuds is still ongoing, and this constitutes an Israeli failure over the past 75 years to enforce a different identity or any sort of… https://t.co/hJVCxmQc6w
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 18, 2023
Illegal Israeli settlers organized on Thursday the so-called Israeli “Flag March”, while Al Mayadeen correspondent confirmed that Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir took part in the provocative march.
Watch: Illegal Israeli colonizers provocatively dance and sing at Bab Al-Amoud plaza in occupied Jerusalem, celebrating Israel's extreme-right provocative 'Flag March', today. pic.twitter.com/k5CqgRaSHN
The settlers waved Israeli occupation flags and chanted racist slogans in Bab Al-Amoud Square, one of the most famous gates of the Old City, while Palestinians raised the Palestinian flag, in defiance of the provocative march.
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank raised the #Palestinian flag in defiance of the Israeli provocative march. Israeli police fired a barrage of gas bombs at protesters and journalists at the Malaka refugee camp, east of #Gaza, leading to the injury of a protester. Israeli… pic.twitter.com/h4ebudJDJZ
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 18, 2023
Our correspondent highlighted that illegal Israeli settlers participating in the “Flag March” chanted racist slogans, calling for burning Palestinian villages and cities and forcibly expelling their residents.
In addition, Israeli occupation forces beat many Palestinian citizens and prevented the press from approaching the march’s location, where settlers planned to perform the so-called “Flag Dance”.
Israeli settlers brutally attacked #Palestinians during their provocative "Flag March" as they chanted racist slogans. Israeli occupation forces also assaulted Palestinians who were confronting the provocative march.#Palestine#AlQudspic.twitter.com/MW9PDF7lTc
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 18, 2023
Israeli settlers celebrated during their “Flag March” while assaulting #Palestinians.
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank raised the #Palestinian flag in defiance of the Israeli provocative march.
Israeli police fired a barrage of gas bombs at protesters and journalists at… pic.twitter.com/kZ3NnnFoKk— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 18, 2023
Al Mayadeen correspondent said Israeli occupation forces arrested eight Palestinians, including a woman, for the mere reason of raising the Palestinian flag in occupied Al-Quds.
The head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, pointed out that the Israeli entity’s mobilization from north to south to provide protection for the so-called “Flag March” reflects the fragility the entity is experiencing at the security level.
In a press statement, Haniyeh said “the Palestinian flag, which flies over our land, consolidates the identity of the homeland and its legitimate owners.”
The Hamas leader affirmed that the chapters of confrontation with the Israeli continue, and the Palestinian people will settle the account with the occupation only when the land of Palestine is liberated.
Haniyeh pointed out that the complete closure of the Old City in Al-Quds reflects the Israeli settlers’ fear of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, stressing that what is happening now illustrates the nature of the struggle, in its religious and national dimensions.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 17, 2023
The Palestinian Resistance factions considered the so-called “Flag March” a failed attempt by the Israeli occupation to impose its control over the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling for confronting the plans that target the city of Al-Quds and its sanctities.
In a joint statement, the factions stressed that the aggression targeting Al-Aqsa and Al-Quds requires an escalation of Resistance action and a great popular movement to thwart the malicious plans of the occupation.
This year’s march is taking place just days after the Israeli occupation launched an aggression on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the martyrdom of 33 Palestinians, almost a third of whom were children and women.
Al Mayadeen analyst for Arab and regional affairs says despite the great wounds as a result of the Israeli aggression, Gazans decided to maintain steadfastness.
On Saturday at 10 pm Al-Quds time, an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation took effect following a five-day Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, which led to the martyrdom of 33 Palestinian and the injury of 100, in addition to huge material losses.
Immediately after the ceasefire was announced and took effect, Gazans took to the streets to celebrate victory in Operation Avenging the Free, which the Palestinian Resistance launched against the Israeli occupation in response to the latter’s assassination of commanders and the brutal killing of civilians.
In conjunction with the celebrations, the Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions in Gaza said Operation Avenging the Free is a new chapter of glory that the Resistance fought as a unified structure, warning that although the operation has ended, the banners of Resistance will not and shall not be lowered and the will to fight will not and shall not ever dwindle.
On his part, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, Ziad Al-Nakhalah, said the Palestinian people, despite the pain, came out with their heads held high everywhere, in Gaza, the West Bank, and across the world, in support of the Resistance, describing these days as “days of honor and dignity for our people, who, with simple resources, are facing all this aggression.”
One might wonder how the Palestinian Resistance and Gazans claimed a victory over the Israeli aggression, despite all the assassinations, killings, and destruction caused by the occupation.
Touching on the matter, Al Mayadeen analyst for Arab and regional affairs, Abdelrahman Nassar, pointed out that the main idea is to break the Israeli dictates, because “Israel’s” goal behind the assassinations was to break the morale of the people.
Nassar explained that when Gazans witnessed the Resistance continuously bombing Israeli military sites, settlements, and cities and causing casualties among the Israelis until the last moment before the ceasefire entered into force, they considered the ceasefire a victory, steadfastness, and perseverance.
“Simply rejecting Israeli dictates in this way is a victory,” Nassar told Al Mayadeen English.
The Palestinian analyst indicated that despite the great wounds, Gazans decided to remain steadfast for many reasons, the most important of which is that they do not like to display their suffering in front of the Israeli occupation, considering all the difficult circumstances they have been under as part of the ongoing 15-year blockade on the Strip.
An upcoming assassination at any moment
Asked about the reason why “Israel” launched its heinous aggression against Gaza at this particular time, Nassar considered that the decision on the timing of the aggression was taken in 2022. He cited an Israeli Channel 14 report as saying that the security establishment confirmed the aggression on Gaza was not a response to the firing of 104 rockets toward “Sderot” in retaliation to Sheikh Khader Adnan’s martyrdom in Israeli occupation prisons, but rather a settling of accounts with the PIJ for each rocket launched since the beginning of the year and the movement’s role in Resistance operations in the occupied West Bank.
Nassar considered that “Israel’s” concern is not the rocket firing from Gaza, since this matter is still unsolvable to the occupation, nor is it the PIJ’s influential commanders, as there are similar influential leaders in other Palestinian factions. Rather, according to Nassar, “Israel’s” problem is that the PIJ is at the forefront of the Resistance’s acts in the West Bank, and hence, the occupation tried to pressure the PIJ to prevent it from pursuing this progress. Therefore, the timing is just a factor related to field conditions and is mainly linked to the occupied West Bank, he noted.
Nassar cited another reason for the aggression — a political factor related to the internal Israeli crisis over the judicial overhaul.
According to Nassar, “Israel” also tried to create a rift between the Palestinian Resistance factions and failed miserably as coordination between the factions was apparent during the aggression, and this is another aspect that boosted the morale of the people.
However, Nassar believed that from the present moment, “Israel” will continue to focus on the PIJ, predicting an upcoming assassination at any moment or a coming battle this year or the following.
Resistance rockets put “Israel” under constant anxiety
Militarily, Al Mayadeen analyst for Arab and regional affairs acknowledged that it would be unfair to compare the capabilities of the Israeli occupation and those of the Palestinian Resistance.
Nevertheless, he pointed out that were it not for the Resistance’s rockets, “the media would have broadcast the images of our martyrs, wounded, and destroyed homes from one side only, just as the situation was in 2010 and before.”
“After 2012, when the Resistance began to put Israel under constant anxiety, the situation changed.”
He added that despite the Resistance not being able to inflict huge casualties, Israeli settlers assert that they “love life” and disrupting their daily lives and spreading fear among them through rocket firing is enough in the meantime.
According to Nassar, the Israelis are infamous for keeping secret their casualties in all confrontations against Lebanon and Palestine, be they military or not.
Israeli media admits no solution to Gaza challenge
Touching on the Israeli media’s feedback on the recent aggression, Nassar pointed out that the media will not attack the occupation army directly. He mentioned that the Israeli media praised the army’s performance but criticized that of the political establishment. However, he noted that the media admitted that “Israel” has not been able to find a solution to the Gaza challenge.
Nassar had previously touched on the path that was followed to reach a ceasefire. He asserted that the Palestinian Resistance’s position was clear from the beginning, which is that it will not end this round unless it forces the Israeli occupation to stop the assassinations and targeting of its leaders and the bombing of homes and civilians.
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Senior commander Iyad Al-Hasani (Abu Anas) was martyred on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Martyr commander Iyad al-Abd Al-Hassani was born in Gaza City’s Beach (Al-Shateh) refugee camp in 1971. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relation.
In 1988, he joined the ranks of the Islamic Jihad movement and got involved in the group’s several boards. Al-Hasani, known with his nom du guerre “Abou Anas”, had been for years wanted and was repeatedly arrested by the occupation forces and the Palestinian Authority (PA) security services.
As for military achievements, the martyr was one of the first to join the Islamic Jihad’s former military body (Muslim Mujahideen Forces “Kasam”).
Between 1992 and 1996, he was involved in dozens of shootings and armed battles with the Israeli enemy.
In addition, the eminent commander was well-known for his role in the self-sacrifice martyrdom operation “Beit Lid” in 1995. One year later, in 1996, he was one of the commanders who masterminded Operation Dizengoff.
In the early 2000s, “Abu Anas” assisted in establishing the Al-Quds Brigades. He also planned and executed various military operations in collaboration with other resistance forces.
Martyr Al-Hasani addressing resistance fighters (screen shot of a video released by Al-Quds Brigades).
Above all, martyr Al-Hasani had formed the Military Judiciary Unit and was a member of the Gaza Strip’s Military Council.
As a result of the indelible mark Al-Hasani caused to the Israeli entity, he was designated as one of the most wanted for more than 25 years.
Perhaps the most prominent position held by Al-Hasani was the Central Operations Command in Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Al-Quds Brigades.
He was said to be the commander in charge of coordination with Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas resistance movement.
The outstanding senior commander was subjected to several assassination attempts, the last of which was on Friday (May 13), when he was martyred in a cowardly Israeli assassination amid the ongoing battle, Revenge of the Free. His companion Mujahid Mohammed Abdel Aal was martyred along him in the Israeli strike which targeted Al-Nasr neighborhood.
His nephew, martyr commander Ramah Fayez Al-Hasani (nom du guerre: Karrar Palestine), was slain in a cowardly Zionist assassination while driving his private car west of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
Above all, martyr Al-Hasani had formed the Military Judiciary Unit and was a member of the Gaza Strip’s Military Council.
As a result of the indelible mark Al-Hasani caused to the Israeli entity, he was designated as one of the most wanted for more than 25 years.
Perhaps the most prominent position held by Al-Hasani was the Central Operations Command in Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Al-Quds Brigades.
He was said to be the commander in charge of coordination with Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas resistance movement.
The outstanding senior commander was subjected to several assassination attempts, the last of which was on Friday (May 13), when he was martyred in a cowardly Israeli assassination amid the ongoing battle, Revenge of the Free. His companion Mujahid Mohammed Abdel Aal was martyred along him in the Israeli strike which targeted Al-Nasr neighborhood.
His nephew, martyr commander Ramah Fayez Al-Hasani (nom du guerre: Karrar Palestine), was slain in a cowardly Zionist assassination while driving his private car west of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
Keys and rings worn by the martyr “Abu Anas”. One of the rings was a gift from Hezbollah S.G. Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah.
Source:Al-Quds Brigades’ Military Media (translated and edited by Areej Fatima Al-Husseini)
في اليوم الثالث من معركة «ثأر الأحرار»، بدت إسرائيل واقعةً في دائرة حيرة كبرى لا تعرف كيفية الفكاك منها. فهي، من جهة، لا تجد الضغط الميداني الذي تمارسه إلى الآن، بما فيه الاغتيالات ضدّ قادة حركة «الجهاد الإسلامي»، كافياً لدفع الأخيرة إلى التراجع عن شروطها لوقف إطلاق النار الذي تريده تل أبيب متبادلاً ومجانياً؛ ومن جهة ثانية، لا تستطيع المغامرة برفع مستوى أذيتها للمدنيين في قطاع غزة – والذي يُعدّ بالنسبة إليها أداة الضغط الأنجع على المقاومة – لما قد يستتبعه ذلك من انخراط أكبر لحركة «حماس» في المواجهة؛ ومن جهة ثالثة، ليس في مقدورها إبقاء الوضع على ما هو عليه من الاستنزاف وتهشيم صورة النصر المفترضة التي انتزعتها بالضربة الأولى. في المقابل، تَظهر المقاومة أكثر ارتياحاً إلى وضعها، وهي ارتقت أمس درجةً جديدة على سلّم الاشتباك، موصلةً، بقرار واحد وفق ما علمته «الأخبار»، رسائلها إلى مدينة القدس، التي ستكون في الأيام المقبلة، في حال استمرار جولة القتال الحالية، عنواناً رئيساً للمواجهة، بالنظر إلى ما يخطّط له الاحتلال ومستوطنوه من فعاليات تهويدية في ذكرى احتلال المدينة المقدسة. وفي انتظار ما ستذهب إليه الأمور في الساعات والأيام المقبلة، يمكن الاكتفاء، إسرائيلياً، بالحقيقة «القاسية والكئيبة» التي باتت تقرّ بها وسائل إعلام العدو، وعنوانها أن هذه الجولة لن تغيّر شيئاً لأن ثمن التغيير «ثقيل ومؤلم»؛ وفلسطينياً، أن المعركة الجارية حالياً ستسهم في تصليب معادلة «وحدة الساحات»، وتعزيز ميزان الردع الذي استطاعت المقاومة إرساءه في وجه العدو في خلال الأشهر الماضية
غزة | في اليوم الثالث، واصلت المقاومة الفلسطينية ردّها على الاحتلال ضمن معركة «ثأر الأحرار»، وسط ضغوط تمارَس عليها لدفعها إلى القبول بالتهدئة، وهو ما ردّت عليه بتوسيع بقعة الاستهداف، موجهةً ضرباتها ….
قد يكون من المبكر الحديث عن نتائج المواجهة الحالية بين العدو الإسرائيلي وحركة «الجهاد الإسلامي»، وإن كان جزء منها بات ملموساً. وسواء أُعلن وقف إطلاق النار الآن، أو تَأجّل أياماً، وهو ما تريده ….
بعد ليلة ساخنة شهدت عشرات الغارات التي طاولت مختلف محافظات قطاع غزة، وفي وقت كانت فيه مفاوضات وقف إطلاق النار تصل إلى لحظاتها الأخيرة، إلى الحدّ …. الذي دفع جيش الاحتلال إلى نشر حصيلة أيام القتال…
تلقّت مستوطنة «رحوفوت» جنوبي تل أبيب، أوّل من أمس، ضربة موجعة، بعدما فشلت منظومة “القبة الحديدية”، «لأسباب تقنية»، كما ادّعى المتحدث باسم جيش الاحتلال، في اعتراض صاروخ أصاب مبنًى فيها إصابة مباشرة، ….
«أبناء الموت»؛ وصفٌ تطلقه إسرائيل على الأشخاص الموضوعين على لائحة الاغتيال لديها، والذين يُعتبرون بالنسبة إليها أمواتاً، ولكنهم الآن أحياء لأن يدها لم تصل إليهم بعد. تستهدف دولة الاحتلال، من وراء هذه ….
لن يَعدّ محمد الأيام والساعات بعد اليوم. ليس في رحاب أيام الصيف المنتظَر، ما سيغمض عينيه ليلاً ليتأمّل روعته، بعد أن استحال حلم الزواج ذكرى سيجتهد كثيراً ليستطيع مواصلة حياته الطبيعية على وقعها. على ….
لم يتوقّف الاستثمار الإسرائيلي في محاولة عزل حركة “الجهاد الإسلامي” عن فصائل المقاومة الأخرى أوّلاً، ثمّ تعريتها جماهيرياً ثانياً. صباح أمس، أفردت قناة “مكان” الإسرائيلية الناطقة بالعربية، مساحة…
Palestinian media reported two houses being hit by Israeli strikes in central Gaza, with Israeli occupation claiming they were sites belonging to Islamic Jihad resistance movement.
“Fighter jets and drones carried out a series of strikes against Palestinian Islamic Jihad sites in the Gaza Strip over the last few hours,” the occupation army said in a statement.
“No Agreement on Temporary Ceasefire”
On the other hand, spokesperson for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance group said no agreement has been reached on a temporary ceasefire.
“We have not reached an agreement regarding a temporary ceasefire [mediated by] Egypt, the talks are continuing,” the spokesman tells the Al-Araby news network, according to the Ynet news site.
“Israel wants quiet in exchange for quiet, without committing to an end to the targeted killings,” the spokesman added.
2 Martyrs in West Bank’s Nablus
Elsewhere in the West Bank, two Palestinians were martyred and many others were injured in a brutal Israeli raid on Balata refugee camp in Nablus city.
Photos capture the extensive devastation of the home in Nablus's Balata camp, which was subjected to a siege this morning by Israeli occupation forces, firing missiles at it. pic.twitter.com/euqKwcUBUr
Palestinian Red Crescent medical service said two Palestinians were martyred during clashes with Israeli occupation forces (IOF), adding that its medics were denied access by the IOF.
In clips published by Palestinian media, gunfire can be heard across the camp.
Islamic Jihad Commander Martyred
Earlier on Friday, Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, pronounced martyrdom of one of its senior commanders, Iyad Al-Hasani (Abu Anas), who was targeted by an Israeli strike.
Iyad Al-Hasani (Abu Anas), senior Islamic Jihad commander who was assassinated by Israeli occupation (May 12, 2023).
Al-Hasani was said to be the head of Al-Quds Brigades operations. Reports suggested that he was responsible for coordenation between Al-Quds Brigades and Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas resistance movement.
Al-Hasani is the sixth Islamic Jihad commander martyred since the start of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza on Tuesday (May 9).
Source: Palestinian and Israeli media (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)
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An Israeli demonstration in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Security in Tel Aviv, to demand an end to the Israeli military operation in Gaza
Revealing that Hezbollah has been in constant contact with Palestinian resistance in Gaza, Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah affirmed that the Lebanese resistance party “won’t hesitate to take actions as duty forces some moves.”
The Hezbollah leader concluded this statement by: “We’ll see,” in a clear threat to the Zionist entity and its premier Benjamin Netanyahu who has been in the last few days boasting of the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza.
Sayyed Nasrallah remarks were during a ceremony marking the seventh martyrdom anniversary of Hezbollah senior commander Mustafa Badreddine – known with his nom du guerre “Sayyed Zulfiqar”.
His eminence hailed the Palestinian resistance for heroically confronting the Israeli aggression on Gaza, today on its fourth day.
In this context he stressed that the united stance of the resistance factions foiled the goals of the Israeli occupation which has been trying to single out the Islamic Jihad and to sow discord between resistance groups in Gaza.
Sayyed Nasrallah, meanwhile, described the Arab League (AL) invitation to Syria as an important step, calling on Lebanese government to restore ties with the Arab country.
On the local affairs, the Hezbollah S.G. said there have been positive developments in the issue of Lebanese presidential elections, but stressed that until a new president is elected the caretaker government must continue to assume its responsibilities.
“Sayyed Zulfiqar”
Talking about the occasion, Sayyed Nasrallah hailed “Sayyed Zulfiqar” as an insightful commander who had deep knowledge and strategic mind.
“Sayyed Zulfiar attained all honorable medals a resistance fighter could get. First, he obtained the medal of a fighter who was present in battlefields. Sayyed Zulfiqar also obtained the medal of an injured fighter and the medal of a prisoner. He took then the medal of a commander who secured achievements and victories. Finally, Sayyed Zulfiqar came by the most sublime medal, martyrdom.”
“Martyr Sayyed Zulfiqar and his companions, by their insight and mindful performance, managed to secure great achievements,” Sayyed Nasrallah addressed the ceremony in Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh).
“Sayyed Zulfiqar, who came up with the slogan of ‘United Banner Till Victory’, manifests, along with great martyr Hajj Qassem Suleimani, unity among powers in the Axis of Resistance,” the Hezbollah leader said, referring to the former commander of the Quds Force, of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was martyred in a US strike near Baghdad airport in January 2020.
Full Support for Gaza
On the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza, Sayyed Nasrallah said all know that ‘Israel’ is the one who initiated the attack by assassinating three senior Islamic Jihad commanders last Tuesday (May 9).
He lashed out at Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, saying his motives behind the offensive were to restore the Israeli deterrence and to find a way out of the internal impasse the Zionist entity have been observing for months.
“Netanyahu, through the aggression, seeks to restore the Israeli deterrence and to handle the split of the Israeli governmental coalition as well as to bolster his popularity.”
Image prepared by Al-Manar that displays quotes by Sayyed Nasrallah
Meanwhile, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the Islamic Jihad is in powerful position, voicing confidence that the resistance group is capable to rehabilitate its organizational structure despite the assassinations that targeted its senior commanders.
In this context, his eminence praised the Gaza-based group’s calm performance in the battle, stressing that the united stance of the resistance groups foiled the Israeli goals.
“The Islamic Jihad acted wisely in a way that confused the Israeli enemy. The resistance stance was united through the Joint Operations Room of the Resistance Factions.”
“Netanyahu has failed in his scheme to single out the Islamic Jihad and to sow discord between the Palestinian resistance factions.”
Sayyed Nasrallah revealed that Hezbollah leadership has been in contact with Palestinian resistance factions, voicing full readiness to offer all forms of support to Palestine.
“We are in constant contact with the Palestinian factions’ commanders. We keep a close eye on the situation and its developments thanks to our brothers. In addition, we offer, within certain limits, feasible assistance.”
“But, I must emphasize, when duty forces specific actions or scenarios on us, we won’t hesitate to take an action, God willing. I will stop by this sentence… and we’ll see!”
The video* below shows Sayyed Nasrallah addressing the Israeli aggression on Gaza:
Syria Back to the Arab League
Sayyed Nasrallah welcomed an invitation by the Arab League to Syria, saying the move is of high significance.
“Syria has neither changed its stance nor its strategy,” his eminence said, stressing: “We recall Sayyed Zulfiqar whenever Syria achieves a political or military victory.”
In this context, the Hezbollah leader called on the Lebanese government to follow suit of the Arab countries and restore ties with Syria.
“Lebanon is called to restore ties with Syria, what are we waiting for? Restoring ties serves Lebanon’s national interest.”
Meanwhile, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that handling the issue of Syrian refugees requires dispatching Lebanese ministerial delegation to Damascus and a national stance that doesn’t yield to foreign pressures in this regard.
Lebanese Presidential Elections
He noted, on the other hand, that are positive developments in the Lebanese presidential elections. The Lebanese resistance leader said that Hezbollah has announced his nominee for the presidential post, stressing that his party has not imposed him on any Lebanese side.
Sayyed Nasrallah affirmed the need for the caretaker government to assume its responsibilities as long as no president is elected.
His eminence called, in this context, to utilize from the positive regional developments, referring to the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Sayyed Nasrallah concluded his speech by renewing allegiance to martyr “Sayyed Zulfiqar” and other martyrs.
“We will follow the suit. We will stick to the resistance path.”
Hezbollah Secretary Generla His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah emphasized that the resistance in Gaza managed to abort the ‘Israeli’ enemy’s goal to restore its power of deterrence, and despite all field and political pressures, it didn’t weaken.
Sayyed Nasrallah made the remarks on Friday afternoon during the event held to commemorate the seventh martyrdom anniversary of resistance leader Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine [Zolfiqar].
“The resistance is steadfast, and it refuses to end the battle without certain conditions. What happened until this day makes the enemy understand very well that any future assassination of any resistance fighter or leader in the Gaza Strip shall not pass, but would rather lead to a widescale confrontation,” the resistance leader underlined.
Terming the battle of Gaza as an important one, Sayyed Nasrallah said its impact are not limited with the strip alone, but with the region as a whole.
His Eminence went on to say that Hezbollah is in continuous communication with the resistance command in Gaza, voicing the Lebanese resistance group’s readiness to offer support at any time the responsibility requires this.
At the beginning of his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah condoled with and congratulated the Palestinian people and resistance factions, especially the Al-Quds Brigades, on the martyrdom of the leaders who were assassinated in the ‘Israeli’ strikes on Gaza.
Sayyed Nasrallah also condoled with the martyrdom of Palestinian detainee Sheikh Khader Adnan.
Referring to the occasion, the Hezbollah leader praised Sayyed Zolfiqar who achieved the medal of the fighter, the medal of the wounded in the Battle of Khalde against the ‘Israeli’ enemy, the medal of detention, the medal of leadership, and lastly the medal of martyrdom, which he described as the most sublime of them all.
“Sayyed Zolfiqar was deep in understanding, insightful, of a strategic mentality, which are the characteristics of many of our leaders,” His Eminence added.
Commenting on the current regional developments, Sayyed Nasrallah underlined that Lebanon is often affected by the unfolding incidents and developments, advising that realities must be approached honestly.
“Those who believed that ‘Israel’ was to remain in Lebanon and that Lebanon has entered the ‘Israeli’ era found out that they were wrong, and all of their bets and culture collapsed as they were built upon miscalculations,” His Eminence said.
To begin with Gaza, Sayyed Nasrallah explained that Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began the current aggression by assassinating the brothers in the Al-Quds Brigades in the besieged strip, along with a number of women and children. He then lamented the international silence this regard, slamming the US that banned the UNSC from condemning ‘Israel’ for killing Gaza women and children.
“Netanyahu has many motifs behind this aggression, which include restoring and rebuilding his deterrence, fleeing the internal crisis, dealing with the division in his government, and improving his political and electoral situation,” the Hezbollah leader analyzed, underscoring that all of Netanyahu’s calculations have failed as he decided to attack the Islamic Jihad and spare all other factions, and create chaos within the resistance environment.
“The occupation sought to strike the Al-Quds Brigades’ command and destroy its rocketry power by dismantling its direct commanders,” the resistance leader noted, stating, however, that the Islamic Jihad command was wise and calm after the assassination of its military leaders, and the Al-Quds Brigades contacted the Qassam Brigades to have a united stance regarding the developments.
“The enemy was waiting a reaction from the Islamic Jihad, and when the resistance factions dealt with the issue calmly, the enemy was confused. The wisdom in directing the battle makes the enemy lose the chance to achieve its goals,” Sayyed Nasrallah explained.
His Eminence went on to list the strengths of the resistance movements in Palestine and the region, praising that they are highly capable of rebuilding their leadership rapidly. “Despite assassinating its leaders, the resistance movements didn’t weaken, and its capabilities were not harmed; the shed blood was rather giving a push forward.”
Sayyed Nasrallah further noted that the quick rebuilding of the Al-Quds Brigades leadership surprised the occupation, which was confused by missiles reaching ‘Tel Aviv’ and Al-Quds.
“The resistance in Gaza failed the enemy’s goal of restoring its deterrence; and despite the field and political pressure, the Palestinian resistance didn’t weaken,” the Hezbollah leader underlined, stressing that today’s battle is the one of protecting and guaranteeing the Palestinian people’s security, and that what has happened so far makes the enemy understand well that any assassination shall not pass and will lead to a wide-scale confrontation.
“Netanyahu cannot lie and tell the ‘Israeli’ enemy that he restored the deterrence; and the battle of Gaza is very important and its impacts are not limited with the strip but with the entire region,” Sayyed Nasrallah said ahead of reiterating that Hezbollah is in continuous contact with the resistance leadership is Gaza, and voiced Hezbollah’s readiness to support the Palestinian at any time.
“We won’t hesitate to offer help at any time we have to,” the Lebanese resistance leader said.
Moving to the Syrian issue, Sayyed Nasrallah termed Syria’s return to the Arab League and inviting President Assad to the Arab summit as a very important indicator.
“Syria remained in its position, it didn’t shift its stance or its axis,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding that the Iranian President’s visit to Syria emphasizes the Iranian-Syrian strategic relations on different levels.
“Syria today is strongly present in the Turkish elections where the candidates are competing to offer their visions regarding Damascus.”
The Hezbollah chief then voiced support for every positive development regarding Syria: “We see in every recovery and progress in Syria the faces of our martyrs and their sacrifices, and our loneliness when the world was criticizing our choice in supporting Syria.”
Sayyed Nasrallah slammed the US looting of the Syrian oil and gas and its insistence on besieging the country through the Caesar Act.
“All the positive developments in Syria happened thanks to the steadfastness of its leadership, people, and army; Syria is heading to ease and the difficult days won’t return,” His Eminence said.
On the local level, Sayyed Nasrallah asked the caretaker government to restore Lebanon’s ties with Syria, stressing that had Hezbollah been the side making decisions in the country, ties with Syria would have been restored ages ago as they serve Lebanon’s interests.
“The issue of the refugees won’t be solved through incitation and on social media platforms, but rather through a ministerial and security delegation that visits Damascus and coordinates to deal with the crisis,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, underlining that a sovereign decision in coordination with the Syrian state is a main condition to deal with the Syrian refugees’ crisis.
Additionally, Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated that Hezbollah doesn’t prevent anybody from returning to the Syrian border villages, refuting the entire propaganda as mere lies, and emphasizing that Hezbollah was the most interested side in returning the people of Al-Qusayr and other villages to their houses.
Besides, the Hezbollah chief contested all news about any link of drug smugglers in Syria with Hezbollah. “All of this is unjust, and hadn’t it been for Hezbollah’s support, the Lebanese authorities wouldn’t have been able to confront several drug dealers in Lebanon.”
Also in his proof, Sayyed Nasrallah insisted that “Our religious and jihadi stance rejects seeking the help of drug smugglers to transfer the arms of resistance to Palestine,” urging the Lebanese state to expose the names of the drug traders and dealers in which people would learn to whom they belong.
On the presidential level, Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated that ex-minister Suleiman Franjieh is Hezbollah’s regular and serious candidate, making clear that Hezbollah doesn’t impose any candidate, and urging everybody to name their candidates so we can go for election in the parliament.
“The Lebanese caretaker government must resume its work despite all difficulties; and we hope that the parliament operates normally and this doesn’t affect the necessity of electing a president,” His Eminence also said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Sayyed Nasrallah opposed the government’s appointment of a new governor for the Central Bank of Lebanon, as well as extending the mandate of the current governor.
At the end of his speech, the Hezbollah leader said “We, the Lebanese people, must take advantage of the positive atmosphere in the region,” stressing that “on the Arab level, there are no permanent hostilities.”
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Senior Islamic Jihad commander Tareq Ezzeddine during an interview with Al-Manar (May 2, 2023).
Hours after the martyrdom of Palestinian hunger striker Sheikh Khader Adnan last week (May 2), Al-Manar TV interviewed martyr EzzedineEzzedine, senior Islamic Jihad commander who was assainated along with other two commanders during Israeli air strikes on Gaza strip on Tuesday (May 9).
Ezzedine, who was interviewed by Al-Manar as the spokesman of the Palestinian resistance movement, praised the slain Sheikh Adnan’s sacrifices and promised to pursue his path. Yet, martyr Ezzedine had no idea that he will, himself, follow suit of Sheikh Adnan and join the ranks of martyrs.
After his assassination, Al-Manar recalls some of the martyr Ezzeddine’s most significant remarks in this video*:
As “Israeli” occupation continues to bomb the besieged Gaza strip and slaughter its civilians, the Palestinian Resistance succeeded in scoring more achievements on the ground.
In details, an “Israeli” settler was killed and several others wounded when a rocket from the Gaza Strip hit “Rehovot” settlement.
Video shared on social media immediately after the attack showed the inside of the building with extensive damage, including holes in the ceiling and floor.
13 other settlers were injured in the Palestinian shelling on the settlement.
The rocket impact came as part of a large barrage fired from the Palestinian besieged enclave that targeted settlements further north the entity than the previous days.
This comes as the Islamic Jihad movement vowed to keep up its retaliatory strikes against the occupied territories until the “Israeli” regime stops its deadly acts of aggression against the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian resistance group is headquartered.
“Israel” has assassinated dozens of Palestinians, including at least five of the movement’s commanders since Tuesday, when it began to significantly escalate its airstrikes against Gaza. The Al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, has fired hundreds of rockets towards the occupied territories in response.
Speaking on Thursday, Anwar Abu Taha, an Islamic Jihad spokesperson, warned that “our weapons, our resistance, and our missile strikes will not stop until the aggression stops, specifically the policy of assassinations against our leaders and our people.”
Taha said the intense reprisal served to send a strong message to the “Israeli” enemy that the Brigades and the resistance have many surprises in store, which can compel the regime to stop its continuous brutality.
“[‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is delusional that the Islamic Jihad will weaken and be broken in light of the assassination of its military leaders, and we tell him that the Islamic Jihad, by assassinating its leaders, is getting stronger and sticking to the option of jihad and resistance,” the Palestinian official noted.
He further mentioned: “The enemy should not test our patience and strength, because we have a lot in store, and in this round, all the suburbs of Tel Aviv are under the range of missiles.”
The air hung heavy as an overwhelming sense of dread permeated my bedroom and a feeling of unease crawled over my skin. At around 2 am [23.00 GMT] on Tuesday, 9 May, the violent shaking from the bombing outside woke me up.
I checked my phone and my worst fears were confirmed when I saw the news that the ‘Israeli’ military was once again attacking Gaza. My area in particular was in grave danger of becoming the next target of ‘Israeli’ warplanes.
As a journalist myself, I took to Twitter to let the world know what was happening.
‘Israel’s’ fighter jets returned, performing their lethal dance above our heads. Over the past 16 years, the sound of jets hovering above, drones buzzing, and bombs exploding over buildings have served as a constant reminder of how precarious life is in Gaza.
After hearing reports of the targeted killing of several Palestinian Islamic Jihad [PIJ] commanders in Gaza, many people began to fear that another war was imminent.
Yesterday’s horrifying statistics are an indication of the escalating violence. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, ‘Israeli’ air strikes in the early morning hours claimed the lives of 15 Palestinians, including four women and four children.
Among the casualties was a prominent dentist, Dr. Jamal Khaswan, who served as chairman of the board of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife Mervat, and their 20-year-old son Youssef, a medical student.
The family was killed when the ceiling of their home collapsed as they slept. As reported by Reuters, Dr. Khaswan was “known for offering free treatment to poor families”.
The tragedy of killing people dedicated to healing and compassion further underscores the senseless nature of ‘Israel’s’ violence.
At least 20 others were wounded in the recent attack, with many in critical condition. These numbers are expected to rise as the air strikes persist and rescue teams continue to search through the rubble.
I thought about the previous wars in 2008-2009; 2012; 2014; 2021; and 2022 and the memories of innocent lives lost, including children and women.
I’ve always known that the uncertainty of life in Gaza is a heavy burden for a parent, and the fear of losing a child at any moment is a constant nightmare. But it was after my daughter Sarah was born nearly a year ago that what I knew in the abstract became ever more real.
As a parent, facing these wars and dealing with their aftermath can feel debilitating. When I look into my child’s eyes, I can’t help but feel the weight of our situation, wondering what her future will hold or if she will even have one; if her hopes and dreams will be replaced with fear and loss, grief and trauma.
Tension hangs heavy in the night air as the sounds of explosions reverberate throughout the area. All over Gaza, parents are huddled tightly together with their children, doing their best to protect them and assure them they will be okay despite knowing in their hearts that there is no guarantee.
With each new attack, the specter of death draws closer, casting a pall over our lives and the dreams we hold dear for our children.
The recently published heartbreaking scenes and images of innocent children killed in their sleep are a stark reminder of the fragility of life in Gaza. My heart aches for the children whose laughter has been silenced forever – children like Mayar Ezz el-Din, 11, her brother, Ali, eight, and Hajar al-Bahtini, five.
Family members of Mayar and Ali shared on social media that, a few hours before the children’s deaths, they had spent hours on Monday evening choosing the perfect outfits for their school trip the next morning and chattering endlessly about the adventures that await them and their friends.
They went to bed early after planning every detail for their field trip – a special day that includes visits to historical sites in Gaza, the zoo, and dining at a restaurant – which children look forward to all year. For Mayar, Ali, and their surviving classmates, this day never came.
Their friends, whose parents hesitated to tell them why their school trip was cancelled, are now left to grapple with this unbearable loss. The mother of Tuqa, a close friend of Mayar, shared on Facebook the devastation her daughter felt at the news, describing her “heartbreak” as a “pain she will never overcome.”
As I experienced myself over the course of several wars on Gaza, the children must now find solace in the memories of their friends – Mayar’s infectious laughter and the way her eyes sparkled with curiosity and mischief. As they walk through the now-empty hallways, they will feel the haunting absence of their friend’s smile and the warmth she brought to their lives.
The school trip the siblings were looking forward to will forever be a cruel reminder of dreams unfulfilled. Mayar and Ali’s expressions of joy, memorialized in the photos circulating online, signify a beacon of light in the dark shadows of war. Such images are not only now etched in the hearts of their teachers and friends, but all who value Palestinian life.
The reality of parenthood in a war-torn place like Gaza means a constant struggle between hope and despair. Yet, death, to us, feels easier than imagining that your child could be next.
Every day, we are confronted with the grim proof of our fractured existence: the bombed-out buildings, the makeshift hospitals, and the shattered lives of our friends and neighbors.
In the quiet moments between the chaos, I watch my infant sleep, her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. I marvel at her innocence and her capacity for joy and wonder in a world that has shown the children of Palestine so little kindness.
As I look into my child’s eyes, I see a flicker of the dreams she carries within her: dreams of a life free from the constant threat of violence, of a world where she can grow and thrive without fear.
These tragedies pierce my heart like a dagger, and the pain never really goes away. I can’t help but put myself in the shoes of parents forced to bury their children, whose hopes, dreams, and laughter were snuffed out by the inhumane mechanisms of war.
Feeling this causes me a great deal of emotional distress, often oscillating between anger, sadness, and a profound feeling of helplessness.
For a refugee like me, whose grandfathers were among those who escaped death in the destroyed town of Barbara [now a part of Ashkelon], the continued bombings are a sobering reminder that the Nakba is not over.
As we mark 75 years of the Nakba this month, we recognize that the catastrophe of losing our homeland in 1948 continues to shape our lives and our ongoing fight for justice.
But even in the face of overwhelming adversity, when the weight of our circumstances threatens to crush us beneath its oppressive force, we will teach our children the importance of love, compassion, and resilience, and instill in them the values that will help them not only survive but also thrive.
As a father, a Gazan, and a human being, I refuse to let the darkness of ‘Israel’s’ aggression extinguish the light of hope that burns within me. I will continue to dream, hope, and work towards a better future for my child and for all the children of Gaza.
And though the path ahead may be fraught with danger and uncertainty, I will walk it with my head held high, my heart filled with love, and my eyes fixed firmly on the horizon, where the promise of a new dawn awaits us – or at least, awaits our children.
The Israeli occupation cowardly assassinates a sixth Al-Quds Brigades commander since the start of the aggression against the Gaza Strip.
On the fourth day of the Israeli occupation aggression against the Gaza Strip, Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ), mourned on Friday Iyad Al-Hassani (Abu Anas), a member of its Military Council and Commander of the Brigades Operations Unit, who was martyred in a cowardly Israeli assassination in Al-Nasr neighborhood, in the west of Gaza City.
A PIJ source told Al Mayadeen that the crime of assassinating the leaders of Al-Quds Brigades “will backfire sending terror across the enemy and defeating its security and army.”
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the arrival of three martyrs and 10 injured at Al-Shifa Hospital, east of Khan Yunis, following an Israeli occupation strike that targeted a residential apartment in Bani Suheila, in the southern Strip.
According to the Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians killed as a result of the ongoing Israeli occupation aggression against Gaza rose to 33 martyrs, including six Resistance leaders, and 111 injured.
Earlier today, the Brigades declared that the Palestinian Resistance delivered a ‘concentrated’ rocket strike on occupied Al-Quds, “Tel Aviv”, and illegal Israeli settlements in response to Israeli occupation forces’ assassination of PIJ military commanders and their ongoing aggression on Gaza.
On Thursday, Al-Quds Brigades Spokesperson Abu Hamza stressed during a televised speech that “assassinating our senior officials and freedom fighters will only bolster our will to fight against the enemy.”
PIJ senior official Khamis Al-Haitham also underlined that the Israeli occupation’s assassination would not go unanswered, as all options are on the table for the Palestinian Resistance.
In the same context, the spokesperson for the Israeli occupation army had announced that about 866 rockets were fired from Gaza toward “Israel” since the beginning of the Israeli aggression, confirming the death of an illegal settler and the wounding of 15 others in a Resistance rocket firing that targeted the illegal settlement of “Rehovot”.
Martyr Iyad Al-Hassani is one of the most prominent leaders of Al-Quds Brigades and one of the most wanted Resistance leaders by the Israeli occupation.
Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, mourned Iyad Al-Hassani (Abu Anas), a member of its Military Council and Commander of the Brigades Operations Unit, who was martyred in a cowardly Israeli assassination in Al-Nasr neighborhood, in the west of Gaza City.
The Joint Operations Room of the Resistance Factions, Hamas, Al-Mujahideen movement, National Resistance Brigades, Al-Nasser Salaheddine Brigades, Fatah and Al-Ahrar movements also mourned the martyr, stressing that the crimes of the Israeli occupation will not stop the Palestinian people’s Resistance and unity.
Who is martyr Al-Hassani that the Israeli occupation assassinated on Friday? And what role did he play in the Resistance?
Al-Hassani joined the PIJ early on after it was founded in the 1980s. He is one of the most prominent leaders of Al-Quds Brigades and one of the most wanted Resistance leaders by the Israeli occupation, for more than 26 years.
The martyr is one of those who supervised martyrdom operations against the Israeli occupation in occupied Palestinian cities under the PIJ’s former military wing (Qasam) and is the commander behind a series of other resistance operations during the second Palestinian Intifada.
Al-Hassani is considered one of the founders of (Qasam) and one of the most wanted by the Israeli occupation forces, due to his great role in planning martyrdom operations inside illegal Israeli settlements during Al-Aqsa Intifada.
One of the most prominent operations that the martyr supervised was the “Beit Lid operation, which resulted in the death of 22 Israelis and the wounding of 63 others, including 20 seriously.
Al-Hassani was one of the masterminds of the Beit Lid double operation, which is one of the most prominent PIJ operations carried out by Anwar Sukkar (Al-Shujaiya) and Salah Shaker (Rafah), on January 22, 1995, that targeted a gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers at the Beit Lid crossroads.
Yedioth Ahronoth described it as “the most severe operations that targeted the Israeli army inside the Green Line.”
Al-Hassani has been the commander of Al-Quds Brigades’ Operations Unit for years. He played a crucial role in confronting Israeli occupation aggression against the Gaza Strip and the rocket firing toward “Israel” during the past years.
In a previous statement made on April 2022, the martyr said there is complete readiness to confront new developments, pointing to a new phase launched by the heroes of Operation Freedom Tunnel and the Jenin Brigade.
During a PIJ meeting held in the city of Rafah, Al-Hassani said the military leadership is satisfied with the readiness of Al-Quds Brigades for all possible scenarios and to surprise the enemy. He also touched on the Resistance situation in the occupied West Bank.
Al-Quds Brigades unveils Buraq 85, threatens IOF: Your Sling is useless
Earlier on Friday, Al-Quds Brigades threatened the Israeli occupation through a video it published, titled: “Your sling will not do you any good,” in reference to “Israel’s” David’s Sling anti-missile system that was used for the first time to intercept Palestinian Resistance rockets fired from the Gaza Strip toward “Tel Aviv”.
In the video, Al-Quds Brigades presented the features of the Buraq-85 rocket, which was manufactured by its fighters in 2019 and has a range of 85 kilometers.
The PIJ warned that more strikes will hit the enemy’s depth in response to targeting and destroying civilian houses.
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A new era in the history of the Zionist entity has started. Thursday, May 11, 2023 will be ever remembered sorrowfully by the Israelis because it refers to the date which records the first death in Tel Aviv caused by a missile fire.
A building in the Rehovot settlement in southern Tel Aviv was directly hit, which left one death and 13 injuries and caused a massive destruction.
The Israeli occupation army announced that more than 800 missiles have been fired from Gaza since the beginning of the operation termed by the Palestinian Resistance as the “Revenge of the Free”.
Zionist media outlet indicated that 15 buildings have so far been directly hit by the Palestinian rockets, indicating that the number of injuries among the Zionist settlers has neared 30.
It is worth noting that the military censorship in the Zionist media has prevented the media outlets from circulating the footage of the destruction caused by the Palestinian missile fire at Tel Aviv, Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and other cities and settlements. In this regard, three buildings in Sderot were directly hit by the Palestinian missiles.
Missiles over Sderot
The Zionist PM Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a security consultations session after ordering the settlers to listen to the instructions of the “home front” commander who predicted battle would take several days.
Zionist PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Meanwhile, the Zionist media continued circulating news about an imminent ceasefire, claiming that Egyptian intelligence minister will meet the Islamic Jihad Chief Zioad Nakhala in Beirut.
The Israeli media also alleged that the United States has started an endeavor to reach a ceasefire after getting fed up with the escalation.
Palestinian Resistance: Assassination Policy Will Fail
The Joint Operations Chamber of the Palestinian Resistance Factions as well as the spokesman of the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Abu Hamza issued a statement which confirms the assassination policy will fail and acts of resistance will continue confronting the Zionist aggression on Gaza.
The military media department of Al-Quds Brigades also circulated a new video that displays its readiness to fire more missiles at the Zionist settlements, ending the video with the Quranic expression “army to be drowned” in Arabic and Hebrew.
An Israeli drone attack on two apartments in Khan Younis had killed the Islamic Jihad Commander Ali Hzsan Ghali who was the top rocket commander. In an official statement, the Al-Quds Brigades expressed their profound grief over the loss of martyr leader Ali Hassan Ghali, widely known as Abu Muhammad. Martyr Ghali, a prominent member of the military council and the esteemed chief of the rocketry unit, tragically fell victim to a deceitful Zionist assassination in Khan Yunis, located in southern Gaza. The statement also acknowledged the presence of other devout martyrs who were martyred alongside him.
Ali Hasan Ghali, Islamic Jihad rocket commander who was assassinated by Israeli occupation (Thursday, May 11, 2023)
Zionist Enemy Kills More Civilians in Gaza
The Zionist warplanes continued raiding the various sites and positions in Gaza, targeting Shujaia, Deir Al-Balah, Bet Lahia and other areas in the blockaded Strip.
Among the targets was the Al-Agha family’s residence in the Al-Qarara region, which was completely demolished by the airstrikes. Another house, owned by the Al-Masry family, suffered a similar fate in the northern Gaza Strip.
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The Israeli occupation assassinated three Islamic Jihad movement leaders at dawn Tuesday. Who are they?
The three PIJ and Al-Quds Brigades leader who were martyred in the Israeli occupation aggression on the Gaza Strip
At dawn Tuesday, the Israeli occupation carried out a brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip, during which it used 40 planes, helicopters, and drones to target several areas in the Strip, including the homes of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ) leaders, which resulted in the death of 13 Palestinians, including the three leaders.
According to the PIJ’s obituary statement, martyr Jihad Ghannam, 62, born in Rafah, is considered one of the most prominent leaders of the Al-Quds Brigades.
Ghannam, a member of the movement’s political bureau, is the secretary of the military council in the Gaza Strip and is also considered one of the resistance leaders most wanted by the occupation since the Al-Aqsa Intifada, which broke out at the end of 2000.
The martyr held many PIJ positions, including the command of the southern region in the Gaza Strip. During the past years, he survived several assassination attempts and sustained several injuries as a result. His feet and parts of his hands were amputated.
During the Intifada, Ghannam supervised numerous decisive military operations that led to the killing of many Israeli occupation soldiers and settlers back when “Israel” established settlements in the Gaza Strip.
He joined the PIJ in the late 1980s and took part in the founding of the Al-Quds Brigades and led them for a long time, and was responsible for many military, administrative, and logistic files, among others.
According to the occupation’s allegations, Ghannam recently worked on coordinating and transferring funds and weapons between the PIJ and Hamas.
The martyr participated in training Resistance fighters inside the Gaza Strip, firing mortar shells, repelling incursions, and targeting Israeli occupation vehicles. He also participated in the training of PIJ Resistance fighters in Sudan.
Ghannam supervised the supply of qualitative weapons to the resistance in Gaza, as well as the recruitment of military cells in the occupied West Bank, which recently launched several operations against the occupation.
He oversaw the development of missile manufacturing in the Al-Quds Brigades, accompanied by leader Khaled Mansour who was martyred in another Israeli aggression in August 2022.
The Israeli occupation attempted to assassinate Ghannam several times, most recently in Operation Seif Al-Quds in May 2021.
He survived more than five assassination attempts, the most serious of which was in 2014 when his mother, siblings, and cousins were martyred in an Israeli airstrike that targeted his house.
The martyr’s family sacrificed many of its members, most notably Ghannam’s brother, Ziad, and two of his nephews.
Ghannam is considered the most prominent figure in the Al-Quds Brigades and was in direct contact with PIJ Secretary-General Ziad Al-Nakhalah, and had a distinguished and direct relationship with Akram Al-Ajouri, the commander-in-chief of the Al-Quds Brigades.
Tarek Ezzedine
The second martyr that the PIJ mourned was Tarek Ezzedine, 48, from the town of Arraba, southwest of Jenin.
The Al-Quds Brigades’ statement described Ezzedine as one of the leaders of its military action in the occupied West Bank.
Ezzedine was arrested several times and was held in Israeli occupation prisons. He was subjected to torture and interrogations, the last of which was in 2002, when he was sentenced to life imprisonment, plus 25 years, on charges of taking part in Resistance operations against the Israeli occupation in the occupied West Bank.
In 2011, he was liberated from Israeli occupation prisons as part of the Loyalty of the Free deal, in which 1,027 prisoners were released in exchange for Israeli occupation soldier Gilad Shalit.
He was elected to the PIJ’s first political bureau in 2018 and was reelected a few months ago.
According to Israeli claims, Ezzedine is considered responsible for coordinating relations between the PIJ in Gaza and Resistance forces in the occupied West Bank and supervising attacks from there, in addition to transferring money and special weapons to the Jenin Brigade.
After his liberation, Ezzedine was deported to the Gaza Strip, and he settled in the Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City, until his martyrdom.
Khalil Al-Bahtini
According to the Al-Quds Brigades’ statement, the third military commander who was martyred in the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza was Khalil Salah Al-Bahtini.
Al-Bahtini, 44, was a member of the Brigades’ military council and commander of its northern region and started his activity in the PIJ in the 1990s.
Al-Bahtini is considered one of the most prominent leaders of the Al-Quds Brigades. He was in direct contact with many of the Brigades’ leaders during the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, and his military activity became more prominent after the occupation’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
He formed several active groups within the Al-Quds Brigades, especially those that oversee missile development.
The martyr was in direct relationship with leader Bahaa Abu Al-Atta, who was assassinated in 2019, and with leaders Tayseer Al-Jabari and Khaled Mansour, who were assassinated by the Israeli occupation in August 2022.
The Israeli occupation claims that the martyr took over the leadership of the northern Gaza Strip in the Al-Quds Brigades after the martyrdom of Tayseer Al-Jabari.
Response to heinous Israeli massacre will not be delayed: PIJ
Earlier, the PIJ held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the “treacherous and heinous terrorist massacre that exceeded all red lines and constituted a serious violation of the ceasefire.”
In a statement, the PIJ stressed that the Palestinian response to this heinous aggression and massacre will not be late, vowing that the Al-Quds Brigades and the Resistance will never relent in retaliating for the crimes committed against the martyrs’ pure blood.
The movement underlined that the enemy will not achieve its goals and objectives from this heinous crime, as the Resistance is united and its positions are firm.
The PIJ affirmed that it will be more determined to continue its path and perform its holy duties in resisting the enemy, adding that behind the leaders of Al-Quds Brigades are strong leaders and soldiers who preserve the covenant and the legacy, and carry the responsibility and determination to fight and drain the enemy and confront it in all arenas.
Sources from the Palestinian Resistance factions’ joint operations room confirm to Al Mayadeen that the Resistance is ready for long-term confrontations and warned of expanding the ring of fire if required.
Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile system fires to intercept a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip towards Occupied Palestinian territories, near “Sderot” Settlement, Gaza envelope, Occupied Palestine, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (AP)
Sources in the Palestinian Resistance factions’ joint operations room told Al Mayadeen, on Wednesday, that “the occupation pressed through various mediators to push for a ceasefire,” noting that “the resistance remained steadfast in its demand for a clear [Israeli] commitment to stopping the assassinations policy.”
The sources also expressed the Resistance’s “readiness to fight for the longest time period yet and to expand the ring of fire if necessary.”
In this regard, the Political Affairs expert Ahmed Abed Al-Rahman told Al Mayadeen, “The [Palestinian Islamic] Jihad movement was subjected to tremendous pressure regarding the ceasefire negotiations, but the movement’s leadership rejected all of these pressures.”
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 10, 2023
Abed Al-Rahman further added that “the resistance’s response to the aggression came in 3 phases, starting at noon and ending at 9:00 p.m. with a half-ton Badr rocket.”
He explained that “the rockets launched by the Al-Quds Brigades at nine o’clock targeted occupied Askalan, and were loaded with explosive warheads weighing half a ton.”
Israeli media quoted a senior official involved in the negotiations as saying, “There are difficulties in implementing a ceasefire.”
The Israeli media reported that “the knot in the negotiations is the Islamic Jihad’s request that Israel commits to stopping the assassinations.”
Israeli media also quoted an Israeli forces spokesman who said that 469 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip until 9:30, claiming that 153 were intercepted.
In the context, sources in the resistance confirmed to Al Mayadeen that “in the event that the enemy does not adhere to the conditions of the resistance, the decision will be to go toward expanding the ring of fire.”
The sources further noted that the recent bombing of “Tel Aviv”, Beer Al-Seba, and other occupied cities and settlements came to confirm that there is no truce except on the terms of the resistance.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 10, 2023
In turn, Talal Abu Zarifa, a member of the political bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said, “The Palestinian resistance cannot surrender to what the occupation wants,” adding that “the Israeli occupation committed a crime,” and that “it must pay the price for that.”
Moreover, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine affirmed that “the renewed Zionist aggression on Gaza is an integral part of the open war,” and praised the Resistance for confronting the aggression on Gaza and responding to it unified.
Simultaneously, Israeli media reported that there was non-stop rocket firing against the Gaza envelope settlements, following the joint statement of the Occupation government Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli Minister of Security, Yoav Gallant.
During his statement, Galant reported that about 400 rockets were fired at “Israel,” while the Israeli media reported that “100 rockets were fired at Israel in the last hour.”
The Palestinian Resistance continues to launch rocket barrages towards the occupied Palestinian territories according to the Al Mayadeen correspondent which reported the firing of successive barrages of rockets from Gaza.
Israeli warplanes have continued to bombard dozens of locations in the Gaza Strip, leaving several civilians dead
Hundreds of Palestinian rockets continued to rain down on Israeli settlements and cities on 10 May, sending settlers fleeing for bomb shelters and causing significant damage to buildings in the settlements of Ashkelon and Sderot.
According to Israeli officials, at least 469 rockets have been fired so far from the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) resistance group. Reports from the besieged enclave claim the resistance has also fired several missiles.
BREAKING NEWS: Palestinian resistance in Gaza launches fresh rocket barrages into Israel following a statement by Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/5hV62rMCov
Israel’s missile defense systems reportedly intercepted 153 of the rockets fired, while 107 fell inside Gaza.
In response, Israeli jets have been conducting airstrikes across Gaza, killing at least four Palestinians, bringing the death toll in two days of Israeli bombardment to 21 – including two Palestinians killed in the West Bank.
Several women and children are among the dead, and at least 64 Palestinians have been wounded.
The crossfire continued despite Egyptian media reports of a “ceasefire” earlier in the day.
As the situation escalated during the night, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with his US counterpart and expressed the army’s “readiness for every operational scenario, including a prolonged campaign and multi-front challenges.”
The rockets from Gaza began flying early on Wednesday in retaliation for Israel’s assassination of three PIJ commanders on Tuesday during an unprovoked attack that also killed several civilians.
“We have hit Islamic Jihad with the most significant blow it has ever suffered,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday about the brutal airstrikes, boasting that the PIJ commanders and their sleeping families were killed “in two seconds in the middle of the night.”
“The campaign is not over,” Netanyahu added.
Speaking to Al-Mayadeen, PIJ sources said that Israeli authorities “pushed through various mediations to beg for a cease-fire” in the wake of resistance attacks that reached all the way to Tel Aviv and occupied Jerusalem.
“The resistance adhered to its position of a clear commitment to stopping the assassinations,” the PIJ added, stressing their “readiness to fight for the longest period of time and to expand the circle of fire if necessary.”
Palestinian sources told Al Jazeera that the ceasefire talks failed after Israel refused to agree to stop the targeted assassinations.
Earlier in the day, other resistance factions joined the PIJ to release a statement saying, “Targeting civilian homes and assassinating our men and heroes is a red line that will be confronted with full force.”
“The resistance is ready for all options, and if the occupation persists with its aggression … dark days await it,” the statement provided to Al Jazeera continued.
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Israeli media reveals that “Israel” informed the United States of its planned aggression on Gaza.
A residential building that was targeted by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip at dawn Tuesday (Quds Network)
The Israeli occupation Army Radio revealed that 40 planes, helicopters, and drones participated in the assassinations and attacks against the Gaza Strip Tuesday morning.
The Israeli media outlet indicated that the aggression on Gaza was scheduled for last Tuesday, but was postponed so that it could be executed under better conditions.
Israeli media reported that prior to the aggression which was approved last weekend, Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Eli Cohen spoke with his US counterpart Antony Blinken.
Israeli Channel 7 indicated that “Israel” informed the United States about the planned aggression on Gaza, adding that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a cabinet meeting Tuesday evening to discuss developments.
A video of a little girl crying over her martyred father has been circulating widely on different social media platforms.
Earlier today, The Israeli occupation forces conducted numerous airstrikes on various cities in the #Gaza Strip targeting residential apartments that were… https://t.co/zMshxRJNgW
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 9, 2023
In the same context, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, underlined that the assassination of the leaders in this “treacherous” aggression will not achieve security for the Israeli occupation.
In a statement, Haniyeh considered that the enemy miscalculated the situation and will pay the price for its crime, as the assassination of the Palestinian Resistance leaders will prompt even more acts of resistance.
Palestinian Legislative Council holds ‘Israel’ responsible for repercussions
On its part, the Presidency of the Palestinian Legislative Council held the Israeli occupation and its “fascist” government fully responsible for the repercussions of its criminal aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The presidency pointed out in a statement that Israeli aggression constitutes a full-fledged war crime that requires immediate punishment, calling on international organizations to assume their responsibility and cease their double standards toward the crimes of the occupation.
At dawn Tuesday, the Israeli occupation targeted several areas in the Gaza Strip, including the homes of leaders in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ), which resulted in the martyrdom of 13 people, including children and women, in addition to at least 20 injuries.
“Israel” launched a deadly assault that targeted residential neighborhoods in the #Gaza strip.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 9, 2023
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza confirmed the martyrdom of the commander of the southern region in the Al-Quds Brigades and the secretary of its military council, Jihad Ghannam, along with his wife during the Israeli occupation’s aggression on the city of Rafah.
Our correspondent also confirmed that the Israeli occupation’s airstrike also targeted PIJ spokesperson Tarek Ezzedine’s house, before it was confirmed that the official had been martyred.
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Footage documenting one of the Israeli airstrikes on Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, earlier tonight. pic.twitter.com/A4Ae8sp8Rt
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza also confirmed the martyrdom of Khalil Al-Bahtini, a member of the Military Council in the Al-Quds Brigades and the commander of the northern region in the Gaza Strip.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the PIJ’s military wing, mourned its leaders who were martyred in the Israeli aggression, underlining that their martyrdom will further strengthen the resistance’s determination.
UPROOTED PALESTINIANS: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM 