ALWAGHT- Islamic Jihad has affirmed its compliance with the ceasefire agreement in Gaza while asserting its right to keep its arms.
Abu Hamza, military spokesman for the al-Quds Brigades, affirmed that Islamic Jihad will continue resisting the Israeli occupation and will not abandon its weapons, emphasizing its strong ties with other resistance factions. He described the current period as a historic crossroads for the Palestinian people and the broader Arab and Islamic struggle.
The statement condemned Israel’s recent war on Gaza, asserting that it was part of a premeditated extermination campaign supported by the US, rather than a response to the October 7, 2023, al-Aqsa Storm operation. Abu Hamza highlighted Israel’s occupation of al-Quds and the West Bank, the siege of Gaza, attacks on civilians, and human rights abuses against Palestinian prisoners. The statement also honored fallen resistance fighters, including former spokesman Naji Maher Abu Saif.
Islamic Jihad praised support from allies in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran during the conflict. The two-year-long war in Gaza reportedly killed nearly 68,300 Palestinians and injured over 170,000. While a ceasefire, part of a US-proposed 20-point plan, has been established, Israel has reportedly continued attacks across Gaza, violating the truce, with further negotiations expected in subsequent phases.
