Hamas leader warns of regional face change if another conflict breaks out between Israel, Palestinians

The leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Yahya al-Sinwar, warns that another flare-up between the Palestinian factions and the Israeli regime will change the face of the Middle East region.

Speaking before academics and public figures in Gaza on Saturday, Sinwar said Palestinian factions used only "half of their force" in the latest conflict with the Israeli regime in May, adding that the fighting was meant only "to test our strength."

"We've proven to Israel that somebody's protecting al-Aqsa Mosque, which is a strategic goal for the Palestinians," he said.

The Hamas leader noted that Israel sought to target more than 10,000 resistance fighters during the latest attacks on Gaza but it failed as "ninety fighters were killed at most.”

Tel Aviv launched the bombing campaign against the besieged Gaza Strip on May 10, following Palestinian retaliation against violent raids on worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque and the regime’s plans to force a number of Palestinian families out of their homes at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem al-Quds.

Apparently caught off guard by the unprecedented barrage of rockets from Gaza, Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire on May 21, which Palestinian resistance movements accepted with Egyptian mediation.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, nearly 260 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli offensive, including 66 children, while some 2,000 others were wounded.

2,000 families without shelter after Israeli aggression on Gaza: Palestinian official

A Palestinian government official says about 2,000 families are without shelter in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli regime’s latest war.

In response, Palestinian resistance factions fired more than 4,000 rockets and missiles into the occupied territories, killing 12 people.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Sinwar criticized some Arab countries for normalizing ties with Israel, saying they are responsible for the flare-up.

"The normalization of ties between some Arab countries and Israel and the intra-Palestinian division encouraged Israel to launch this aggression," the Hamas leader added.

In September 2020, the United Arab Emirates was the first country to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel as part of an agreement brokered by former US President Donald Trump.

Bahrain also signed the accord with Israel, followed by Morocco and Sudan.

The deals sparked outrage across Muslim countries.

In defiance of global criticism, Trump had also relocated the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds in December 2017, calling the holy occupied city Israel’s “capital.”

Sinwar further welcomed any effort to help reconstruct Gaza, saying, "We'll open the door to all those who support the rebuilding of the [Gaza] Strip, and we won't use funds earmarked for reconstruction for military needs." 

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in a tweet late last month that his country would provide $500 million to help rebuild the besieged Gaza Strip.

Qatar to contribute $500m to Gaza reconstruction after destructive Israeli raids: FM

The Qatari foreign minister says Doha will provide $500 million to help rebuild the besieged Gaza Strip, following 11 days of Israel’s airstrikes against the enclave.

The Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar quoted Qatari envoy to the Gaza Strip Mohammed al-Amadi as saying that Israel is preventing the transfer of funds.

A Hamas spokesman warned on Friday that it is likely that “another round of confrontation” will occur if the Israeli regime continues such violations against the Palestinian people. 

Hamas warns of 'another round of confrontation' if Israel continues violations

A spokesman said another round of confrontation could begin if Israel does not end daily incursions into the Palestinian territory.

Speaking to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency during a visit to the Tunisian capital, Tunis, Sami Abu Zuhri, said Israel “does not respect agreements and carries out daily incursions into the cities of the West Bank, and the threat of displacement of the residents of Jerusalem al-Quds is still present.”

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