The Palestinian movement Hamas stated on Thursday that the "cowardly Israeli crime" targeting Azzam al-Hayya, son of the movement's leader in Gaza and head of its negotiation delegation, Khalil al-Hayya, is a continuation of the occupation’s policy of targeting civilians and families of Palestinian leaders. Hamas described this as a failed attempt to undermine the resistance's will and political positions through "terrorism, killing, and psychological pressure."
اضافة اعلان
In a statement released on Thursday, Hamas emphasized that the "contradiction and confusion" surrounding the Israeli narrative of the strike reveal the extent of the occupation government’s instability. The movement added that this crime clearly reflects attempts to pressure the resistance leadership and its negotiating team after the occupation failed to impose its conditions or achieve its declared objectives.
Hamas underscored that such crimes will not force Palestinian negotiators to retreat from their principles or abandon the people's rights to end the aggression, lift the blockade, and ensure a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, Azzam Khalil al-Hayya succumbed to injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike yesterday. Palestinian sources reported that al-Hayya’s son was killed following a strike that targeted him in the Al-Daraj neighborhood, east of Gaza City, last night.
Gaza remains under constant tension despite a fragile ceasefire. Israeli raids continue to cause casualties intermittently amidst obstacles in implementing the agreement's terms and ongoing disputes over humanitarian aid mechanisms and military withdrawal.
A ceasefire agreement has been in place between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip since October 10. Its first phase included a prisoner and hostage exchange, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from certain areas. In mid-January, the United States announced the start of the second phase of the proposed peace plan, which involves a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, the commencement of reconstruction, and the establishment of a transitional governing body in the Strip.
