Hamas determination to fight occupation outweighs group’s missiles: Senior official

A senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the group’s will and determination to fight the Israeli occupation outweighs its tunnels and missiles. 

Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the Hamas’ political bureau, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV’s “Face to Face” program on Tuesday, during which he discussed the reasons behind the group’s operation against the Israeli occupation, which was launched on October 7.

 “The most significant factor Hamas fighters possess is that they are people with a right and a just cause and people who believe in it are ready to sacrifice for it. This is the most significant thing we have and more reliable than the tunnels and missiles…When we have the will and determination, nothing can defeat us,” he said.  

Israel cannot destroy Hamas

Arouri noted that Israel cannot destroy Hamas and all its attempts to destroy it will fail, emphasizing that the resistance group is the “essential part” of the Palestinian people and it will continue to fight and stand against Israeli brutality with will and determination.

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Hamas determination outweighs its missiles

In his remarks, Arouri also said the group’s will and determination to fight the Israeli occupation outweighs its tunnels and missiles.

The Palestinian leader said the most significant strength point of the Palestinian fighters is that they fight for a just cause and are ready to sacrifice for their cause.

He said this will and determination is much more important than Hamas’ tunnels and missiles.

“The most significant factor Hamas fighters possess is that they are people with a right and a just cause and people who believe in it are ready to sacrifice for it. This is the most significant thing we have and more reliable than the tunnels and missiles …When we have the will and determination, nothing can defeat us,” he said.

Palestinians capable of defeating Israel

Arouri noted that Israel can by no means wipe out Hamas no matter how hard it tries.

He emphasized that the resistance group is the “essential part” of the Palestinian people and it will continue to fight and stand against Israeli brutality with will and determination.

In the interview, Arouri said Israel has had no significant battlefield achievement so far.

He said the regime’s forces have resorted to propaganda campaign such as arresting civilians in schools claiming they are prisoners from Hamas.

“There is no doubt in that, I’m talking to the Israelis who are repeating their allegations by saying we are going to defeat Hamas and its fighters very soon. If they are Hamas fighters under your arrest, why don’t you distribute photos for them? What they have been doing is a desperate movement; they arrested old people claiming they were Hamas fighters.”

He said the resistance movement will not be eliminated, and it is even capable of defeating the occupation forces.  

“Our ability to go ahead with fighting till the defeat of the occupation is 100% certain, that is what I said two months ago. Many people were asking would Israel succeed? I replied we would meet six months or a year later, and then the Israelis would beg the world to get them out of the hell of resistance.”

Al-Aqsa Storm part of Palestinian struggle

He said Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was part of the long-running Palestinian struggle to regain its freedom, stressing that it was meant to show the world that ignoring the rights of the Palestinian people will negatively impact stability.

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“October 7 wasn’t something rare. That was … part of the Palestinian struggle to get its freedom and to live like other nations in the world, having its state and own sovereignty. So this has been another stage of the Palestinian people[‘s struggle] … but this stage has been a big and powerful one, [as it] created a big shock for the Israeli regime,” Arouri said. 

“The operation carried out by resistance factions caused surprise and shock and meant to awaken the Israeli society and the world in general.  These people did not remain silent about their rights and are capable of showing the world every time what is bigger and more dangerous. The negligence to the rights of the Palestinian people will affect the international stability,” he added.

The Hamas official went on to say that this operation made it clear that the Israeli military and intelligence services are nothing “more than a mirage.”

Arouri further stated that the extremist policies of the Israeli regime were also among the reasons behind Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, including the expansion of settlements and changing the status quo of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied al-Quds, as well as the years-long blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The current Israeli regime has exceeded all red lines, he said, stressing that “there is no way of remaining silent in front of it.”

Iran been sincere in supporting Gaza

He further hailed Iran’s support for the Palestinian cause, and said all Muslim countries should follow Iran’s suit and take concrete actions to help the Palestinians liberate their lands.

The Hamas official also condemned the international community’s disregard for Israeli actions, saying the world’s silence is ruining any possible chance for a solution. 

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long violence against Palestinians.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed over 19,600 Palestinians and injured more than 52,000 others.

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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www.presstv.ir