Iran, Hezbollah, Syria sole supporters of Palestinians: Islamic Jihad chief

Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement Ziyad al-Nakhalah has called Iran, Syria, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah the sole supporters of Palestinians in the face of Israeli occupation, calling on the Arab world to “fulfill their duties.”

In an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen on Thursday, al-Nakhalah touched upon the continued Israeli aggression on the occupied territories, noting that a “true armed intifada is taking place in the West Bank.”

“We are fighting the United States in Israel, for it is its main backer. Meanwhile, we do not see any backers of Palestine aside from Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria,” he said.

He said the resistance group is ready to receive support from any other Islamic country, calling on the Arab world to “fulfill their duties” toward Palestine.

This comes as some regional countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, started normalization of ties with Israel in 2020 under the so-called Abraham Accords. Palestinians have described the measure as a stab in their back.

Jordanian monarch warns of 'new intifada’ amid Israel's intensified crimes against Palestinians

The Jordanian king warns of ‘new intifida’ amid Israel

Nakhalah said the enemy seeks to “delude” the world by claiming that Iran is using Palestinians as “cannon fodders” in its war against Israel, highlighting, “this is a false narrative.”

Israel’s probable aggression on Gaza in 2023

Elsewhere, the PIJ chief said he expects a new round of Israeli aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip in 2023.

“Gaza is not isolated from the developments in the West Bank, and it is preparing itself for battle. It is not completely off the table for Gaza to maintain a presence on the battlefield,” he said.

Resistance forces in Gaza will support the West Bank “through thick and thin”, he said, adding that they are ready to participate in any battle if the situation calls for an intervention.

The remarks come amid the increasing Israeli violence in the occupied territories which has made 2022 the deadliest year for Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu has been sworn in as Israeli prime minister, marking a personal return to power for someone who is already the Tel Aviv regime’s longest-serving premier.

“The new cabinet seeks to expand settlements in the West Bank and we will confront it,” Nakhalah said, expressing hopes for increased support from Arab countries.

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Israeli occupation forces and settlers have been escalating their attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and other occupied areas, in an attempt to forcibly expel Palestinians from their lands and make way for expanding illegal Israeli settlements.

Since the start of 2022, Israeli troops have killed more than 220 Palestinians, including more than 50 children in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds as well as in the besieged Gaza Strip.

According to the United Nations, the number of Palestinians killed by Israel in the occupied West Bank this year is the highest it has been in 16 years.

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