Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Saturday that tens of thousands of people in Gaza have been killed by Israel using US weapons.

He also stated that Washington's veto against the establishment of a Palestinian state in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) effectively provides political protection to Tel Aviv's actions, reports Anadolu agency.

He added that the US veto of the full membership of the state of Palestine at the UN shows that Washington has embraced the Israeli position, and opposes the rights of the Palestinian people.

Rafah operation could lead to massacre

Haniyeh warned against a possible military operation by the Israeli army in Rafah, saying that this could lead to a massacre of the Palestinian people.

“I call on all brotherly countries, our brothers in Egypt, our brothers in Türkiye, our brothers in Qatar as mediators, and the European countries to take action to restrain (Israeli) aggression and prevent the operation in Rafah, as well as ensure the complete withdrawal (of the Israeli army) from the Gaza Strip and end to attacks on Gaza.”

Speaking about the resistance of the Palestinian people, Haniyeh said: “If the Zionist enemy enters Rafah, Palestinian people will not raise the white flag. The resistance fighters in Rafah are ready to defend themselves and resist attacks.”

Negotiations with Israel

“We agreed to negotiations, but on the condition that attacks on the Palestinian people be stopped,” Haniyeh said, explaining the reason why they agreed to negotiate with Israel.

“But the condition is that these negotiations must result in a 'permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal of troops and the return of the displaced people and a prisoner exchange agreement.”

Emphasizing that Israel has not accepted a cease-fire in Gaza despite all the negotiations held so far with dozens of proposals submitted through mediators, Haniyeh said: "All it (Israel) wants is to take back the prisoners and then restart the war in Gaza, and this is not possible. The Israeli army must completely withdraw from Gaza. Israel also does not want the displaced people to return to northern Gaza. It accepts a limited and gradual return. It is unacceptable.”

He emphasized that Israel proposes a small number of people for prisoner exchange, though it has arrested nearly 14,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza since Oct. 7.

Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque