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On June 5, 2024, the pro-Hizbullah Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar published an article written by its Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Al-Amin containing an interview with an unnamed "senior jihadi commander in the Palestinian resistance."[1] According to the "commander," the Palestinian resistance factions are rallied behind Hamas as the leader of the war against Israel, and all the forces of the resistance axis are operating in full coordination and are assisting the resistance in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank with weapons and intelligence. In addition, he said that the headquarters of Hamas's Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades military wing recently told Hamas's negotiations team that they can continue fighting for another long time and that they have "surprises that the enemy and its allies cannot imagine."
The man said that the Palestinian resistance factions view Hamas as the leader of the war, and that already in mid-October 2023 the leaders of the various factions informed Hamas's leadership abroad and he leadership of Hamas's military wing in Gaza that they are all rallying in its support. He said that this recognition on their part of Hamas's prominent position as the leader of the war does not endanger or harm the plans of the fighters on the ground, and "the cooperation in the field is incomparably smooth, and Hamas's leadership abroad does not make any decision unless it consults with everybody, and particularly with the Al-Qassam [Brigades'] headquarters in the heart of Gaza."
He said that the disputes between the various resistance factions at the beginning of the war have been resolved, and currently everybody agrees that "fronts of assistance for the resistance" must be launched everywhere – from Lebanon, through Syria and Iraq, all the way to Yemen. They agree that the resistance in Palestine must be offered immediate support, both in Gaza and in the West Bank. He elaborated that the joint operations room of the resistance forces, which is located outside of Palestine, is leading operational plans that aim to: provide the fighters in Gaza with everything they need; provide them with daily intelligence about the activities of Israeli "occupation forces" in the Gaza Strip and elsewhere; and smuggle weapons to the members of the resistance in Gaza and the West bank, while overcoming the obstacles to these goals that are presented by the Arab regimes that collaborate with Israel.
The commander also said that the regular consultations with Iran's IRGC, with Hizbullah, with the Houthi Ansar Allah movement in Yemen have brought to a gradual escalation in the "assistance" operations, which are exerting great pressure on the enemy and its allies.
On the subject of the current hostage deal negotiations, the man said that Hamas's stance is "clear and simple" and has already been presented to the Qatari and Egyptian mediators. He explained that according to this stance, all ideas and positions that are presented must be written down and must include clear implementation plans. He also said that the United States and the mediators must provide documents signed by Israel, along with a public agreement made personally by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Moreover, the United States must clarify how it will act to ensure that Israel adheres to the agreement. He added: "There is no possibility of a solution without a clear plan for ending the war in Gaza."
At the end of the article, Al-Amin wrote that the most recent message sent by the headquarters of Hamas's Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades military wing in Gaza to Hamas's negotiations team abroad said, among other things: "Remain steadfast, and do not chase after everything the mediators tell you… The resistance can continue remaining steadfast a long time. It is meticulously managing its military arsenal and its operational methods. It has surprises that the enemy and its allies cannot imagine."
[1] June 5, 2024.
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