Abu Obeida, spokesman for Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, has affirmed that the Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza are fully prepared to continue a prolonged war of attrition against the Israeli occupation forces, regardless of its aggression and schemes.
Abu Obeida made his remarks in a new video statement aired on Friday by Al Jazeera satellite channel. This marks his first public address since March 6.
“Four months have passed since the enemy resumed its aggression after reneging on the understandings and the agreement concluded with the resistance,” Abu Obeida said, adding that during this period, Palestinian fighters inflicted significant casualties and losses on Israeli forces.
“We have killed and wounded hundreds of enemy soldiers, and thousands have suffered psychological trauma,” he stated, adding that the resistance has been developing its tactics throughout what he called “the longest confrontation in our people’s history.”
“Al-Qassam Brigades are fully prepared for a long battle of attrition against the occupation forces, irrespective of the forms and tactics their aggression may take,” Abu Obeida declared, outlining a resistance strategy focused on “inflicting casualties, carrying out special operations, and capturing soldiers.”
He warned that “if the terrorist enemy government chooses to continue its genocidal war, it chooses to continue receiving the coffins of its soldiers and officers.”
Abu Obeida also criticized Arab and Islamic governments for failing to stop Israel’s ongoing aggression against Gaza.
“The regimes and forces of our Ummah continue to watch as their brothers in the Holy Land are killed by the tens of thousands, starved, and denied food, water, and medicine,” he said.
“The necks of the leaders, elites, major parties and scholars of the Islamic and Arab nations are burdened with the blood of tens of thousands of innocent people who have been betrayed by their silence.”
“The enemy would not have dared to commit genocide openly before the eyes and ears of the nation’s leaders if it had not been confident of impunity, guaranteed silence, and bought complicity,” Abu Obeida added.
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman also lauded Yemen’s Ansarullah group for their military support for Gaza, describing Yemen as an “effective front” against the Israeli occupation state.
He said, “We salute our beloved people in Yemen, a land of wisdom and faith, their armed forces, and our sincere brothers from Ansarullah,” describing their deeds as a “decisive response to the inactive and submissive Arab and Islamic regimes, forces, and parties.”
Talking about the current ceasefire and prisoner exchange talks, Abu Obeida said that Hamas offered to release all the captured Israeli soldiers in one comprehensive deal, but the Israeli government refused.
“Over the past months, we have consistently put forward comprehensive proposals to release all the enemy prisoners in a single exchange.”
“But war criminal Netanyahu and his ministers rejected our offer. It has become clear to us that the soldiers held captive are not a priority for them and that they have prepared their public to accept their deaths.”
The spokesman warned that if the current round of negotiations failed, Hamas might not return to previous partial exchange proposals.
