Hamas warns that any Israeli assault on Gaza will be defeated

Palestinian Hamas supporters attend a festivalin the West Bank city of Qalqilia (MaanImages)

January 15, 2007

Gaza - Ma'an - On Monday the Hamas movement confirmed that they are ready to retaliate to any Israeli assault on the Palestinian people.

A leader of the Hamas movement, Hamad Ar-Raqab, said in a statement that Hamas, "Will be ready, as usual, to defend the Palestinian people."

He said that Israeli threats come as an attempt by the Olmert government to retain his army's dignity after they were defeated by the Lebanese resistance in Lebanon and after they failed in their operation, 'scattered illusions,' which aimed to bring back Gilad Shalit.

Ar-Raqab warned that "any Israeli adventure in the Gaza Strip will be doomed to failure, since Palestinian resistance fighters will respond to it courageously."