Syria Support Movement solidarity with the Syrian people
from The News Desk at The Cradle, October 28, 2023
The spokesman of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas resistance movement, gave a televised speech on 28 October, stating that the movement’s fighters in Gaza welcome an Israeli ground invasion, while criticizing Arab states for failing to provide aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Al-Qassam spokesman Abu Obeida stated that Hamas views an Israeli ground invasion, which Israeli leaders have promised ever since the surprise Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, as an opportunity.
“We want to convey to our enemy that we are impatiently awaiting the opportunity to introduce [its forces] to new forms of demise.”
“إذا أراد العدو إنهاء ملف الأسرى مرة واحدة فنحن مستعدون وإذا أراد مساراً لتجزئة الملف فمستعدون أيضاً”
الناطق العسكري باسم كتائب القسام #أبو_عبيدة #طوفان_الأقصى #الثورة_الكبرى pic.twitter.com/MXjZC4rci3
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) October 28, 2023
In a televised address, Abu Obeida underlined the importance of this battle in the liberation of occupied Jerusalem, stressing the “Zionist massacres against the civilians in Gaza reflect” Israel’s weakness.
He also expressed willingness to exchange the captives Hamas took during the 7 October attack in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
“The price to pay for the large number of enemy hostages in our hands is to empty the [Israeli] prisons of all Palestinian prisoners,” Abu Obeida said in a statement broadcast by the Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television channel.
“If the enemy wants to close this file of detainees in one go, we are ready for it. If it wants to do it step-by-step, we are ready for that too.”
Abu Obeida wondered why the leaders of the Arab countries have not been able to send aid to Gaza, let along intervene militarily on the Palestinian side.
“We are not even asking the Arab armies to mobilize, for we have taken it upon ourselves to sweep the Zionists out of Gaza, but have you [Arab leaders] become so weak and impotent that you are unable to send relief vehicles to a part of your Arab and Islamic land?
Abu Obeida’s speech comes as Israeli special forces teams have attempted several times in the last week to enter Gaza, but were repelled by Hamas fighters each time.
Israel intensified its already horrific bombing of Gaza Friday, killing 53 Palestinians overnight. Israel also cut all internet and phone networks in Gaza, allegedly in preparation for a full-scale ground invasion.
Gaza residents are largely unable to communicate with the outside world, raising fears an Israeli invasion was about to begin.
On 28 October, Israel Defense Minister signaled this was the case, stating that “the ground shook in Gaza” the night before and that the war against the territory’s Hamas rulers had “entered a new stage.”
“We attacked above ground and underground. … The instructions to the forces are clear. The campaign will continue until further notice,” Gallant said.
Israel continued to warn Palestinians on Saturday to flee the northern half of the besieged enclave in advance of a ground invasion. However, Israel has been carrying out heavy airstrikes in southern Gaza as well, giving Palestinians no place to flee.
Israeli leaders have stated, and Palestinians fear, that Israel wishes to force Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee to Egypt and then annex the Gaza Strip and its recently discovered off shore gas reserves.
Israel delayed launching the ground invasion several times, as the US military has sent additional naval and ground forces to the region, and has sought to deploy additional air defense systems to its network of bases throughout West Asia, including in Iraq and Syria.
