Hamas: Netanyahu's Speech Won't Weaken Palestinian Resolve to Defend Al-Aqsa
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Hamas responded to a speech by the Israeli regime prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that his remarks will not weaken the Palestinian people's resolve to defend the al-Aqsa Mosque against Israeli aggression.
"Netanyahu’s speech cannot frighten our Palestinian people," said Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for the resistance movement, adding that Palestinians "will continue the battle to defend the identity of al-Aqsa Mosque in the face of the religious war waged by the enemy."
This comes amid rising tensions throughout the occupied territories, following an attack on Palestinian worshippers observing Ramadan at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third-holiest site. The attacks prompted retaliatory rocket strikes from the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria.
During his speech, Netanyahu said the regime had dropped "50 tons of bombs" on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, and accused Hamas of being behind the reprisal attacks from Lebanon.
Qassem described Netanyahu's speech as an attempt to falsify the facts, stating that the Israeli occupation was "the basis of all tensions" across the occupied territories.
He added that the Palestinian people are waging a legitimate battle to restore their right to freedom and independence, and that "Netanyahu’s threats against our Palestinian people, Syria, Lebanon and Iran prove that the occupying regime is a menace to the entire region and its interests."
In another development on Monday, at least 216 Palestinian citizens were injured in a raid by Israeli forces on Beita village, south of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, 185 Palestinian citizens suffered breathing problems after Israeli forces fired tear gas bombs at them in Beita.
The raid took place after thousands of Jewish settlers, protected by the regime’s forces, stormed Mount Sabih, demanding the legalization of the settlement outpost of Evyatar.