Hamas determination to fight occupation outweighs group’s missiles: Senior official

Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the Hamas’ political bureau, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV’s “Face to Face” program on Tuesday, during which he discussed the reasons behind the group’s operation against the Israeli occupation, which was launched on October 7.

 “The most significant factor Hamas fighters possess is that they are people with a right and a just cause and people who believe in it are ready to sacrifice for it. This is the most significant thing we have and more reliable than the tunnels and missiles…When we have the will and determination, nothing can defeat us,” he said.  

Arouri noted that Israel cannot destroy Hamas and all its attempts to destroy it will fail, emphasizing that the resistance group is the “essential part” of the Palestinian people and it will continue to fight and stand against Israeli brutality with will and determination.

He said Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was part of the Palestinian struggle to regain its freedom, stressing that it was meant to show the world that ignoring the rights of the Palestinian people will affect international stability.

“October 7 wasn’t something rare. That was … part of the Palestinian struggle to get its freedom and to live like other nations in the world, having its state and own sovereignty. So this has been another stage of Palestinian people[‘s struggle] … but this stage has been a big and powerful one, [as it] created a big shock for the Israeli regime,” Arouri said.  

“The operation carried out by resistance factions caused surprise and shock and meant to awaken the Israeli society and the world in general.  These people did not remain silent about their rights and are capable of showing the world every time what is bigger and more dangerous. The negligence to the rights of the Palestinian people will affect the international stability,” he added.

The Hamas official went on to say that this operation made it clear that the Israeli military and intelligence services are nothing “more than a mirage.”

Arouri further stated that the extremist policies of the Israeli regime were also among the reasons behind Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, including the expansion of settlements and changing the status quo of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied al-Quds, as well as the years-long blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The current Israeli regime has exceeded all lines, he said, stressing that “there is no way of remaining silent in front of it.”

The Hamas official also condemned the international community’s disregard for Israeli actions, saying the world’s silence is ruining any possible chance for a solution.  

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long violence against Palestinians.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed over 19,400 Palestinians and injured more than 52,000 others.

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.