The al-Qassam Brigades asserted on Sunday that the Israeli occupation bears full responsibility for the ongoing confrontations with Resistance fighters in Rafah, stressing that the fighters are defending themselves within an area under "Israel's" control.

In a statement, the al-Qassam Brigades emphasized that "the principle of surrender and handing oneself over to the enemy does not exist in al-Qassam's dictionary," affirming that resistance in Rafah will continue despite the pressure and military operations by the Israeli occupation.

The group placed full responsibility on the Israeli occupation for the confrontations and their consequences, pointing to the continued aggression and violations taking place in Rafah, and warning that the Resistance is prepared to respond to any escalation.

Mediators urged to uphold and protect ceasefire

The al-Qassam Brigades also addressed the role of mediators, stating they have a duty to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire and to prevent the occupation from exploiting the situation to justify targeting civilians in Gaza, criticizing "Israel's" flimsy pretexts used to violate the truce.

Regarding the bodies of Israeli captives, the statement explained that their recovery took place under extremely complex and dangerous circumstances, adding, "Despite these extremely difficult and complex circumstances, we adhered to what was required of us in the agreement."

The statement concluded by noting that retrieving the remaining bodies would require additional technical teams and equipment, highlighting the challenges posed by the ongoing aggression and instability on the ground.

On that note, it's worth recalling that a delegation from Hamas's leadership, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, met on November 6 in Istanbul with the head of Turkish intelligence, Ibrahim Kalin, to discuss the latest developments related to the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and "Israel’s" ongoing violations of its terms.

According to a statement issued by Hamas, the talks focused on the continued shelling and gunfire in areas under Israeli military control, the ongoing closure of border crossings, particularly the Rafah crossing, and restrictions on humanitarian and medical aid entering the Strip. The delegation also pointed to significant delays in rehabilitating critical infrastructure, including sewage systems, roads, and electricity grids, despite commitments laid out in the ceasefire framework.