Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh expressed unwavering confidence in the resilience of the Palestinian people, asserting their ability to endure the Israeli offensive on Gaza and ultimately emerge victorious from the ongoing conflict.
Haniyeh conveyed his conviction, stating, "Without an iota of doubt, if the enemy wants it to be a long battle, our capacity is even longer."
He emphasised the endurance of the Palestinian people, dismissing Israeli plans as thwarted despite what he termed as "barbaric" attacks on civilians.
The Hamas chief acknowledged the support of regional allies without explicitly naming them. Notably, he praised the contributions of Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which has been conducting frequent attacks against Israeli troops along the Israel-Lebanon border in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
"I salute the resistance fronts that have contributed to this battle through strategic balance," Haniyeh declared.
Addressing the issue of a potential prisoner swap, Haniyeh hinted at the possibility, stating, "The enemy has not been able to achieve any of its goals or return its captives except for the price that the resistance decides."
This statement comes in the wake of a recent denial by Hamas regarding a Reuters report suggesting that Iran had informed the Palestinian group after its October 7 attack that Tehran would not intervene in the conflict.
The situation has drawn attention from global powers, with Washington cautioning against the expansion of the conflict and deploying military assets to the region in an effort to deter other actors from joining the war.
As the conflict persists, the toll on human lives continues to rise. At least 11,470 people have reportedly been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7.
However, the accuracy of this figure remains uncertain due to the collapse of the health system amid ongoing attacks. In Israel, the official death toll from Hamas's attacks stands at more than 1,200. The region remains on edge as international efforts to mediate and de-escalate the situation continue
