IOF still unable to control, secure Gaza Envelope: DFLP - Exclusive

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
22 Oct 2023 18:42
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Talal Abu Zarifeh tells Al Mayadeen Net that the Resistance is ready to confront invading Israeli occupation forces for a long period of time.

Fighters from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine's (DFLP) - National Resistance Brigades exit a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, on May 19, 2023. (AFP)

The Palestinian Resistance still holds the necessary capabilities and assets to go forward with Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Talal Abu Zarifeh, a leader in the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) told Al Mayadeen Net.

Abu Zarifeh clarified that the Resistance's missions behind enemy lines are ongoing, adding that it continues to confront the Israeli occupation forces by launching rockets and shelling settlements and groupings. The official reiterated that these operations come in response to the occupation's massacres against the Palestinian people.

The DFLP leader emphasized that the Israeli occupation is "still unable to secure Gaza's Envelope," referring to occupied territories surrounding the Gaza Strip that saw relentless confrontations on the first week of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

Regarding the rumored ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, Abu Zarifeh expressed strong skepticism about the Israeli occupation forces' ability to successfully penetrate the Strip. He pointed out that the Israeli military apparatus has yet to fully recover from the significant defeat it suffered on October 7.

On the contrary, Abu Zarifeh stressed the ability of the Resistance to increase the count of casualties among occupation soldiers and augment the count of captives it currently detains, estimated to be at a minimum of 200.

He underlined that the Resistance would surprise the occupation with its ability to expand the battle for a long period of time.

'Israel' targets UNRWA

Regarding confirmed reports that aid that entered the Rafah crossing was only distributed in the Southern part of the Gaza Strip, Abu Zarifeh said this is evidence that the occupation is still attempting to forcibly displace Gazans toward the South.

The DFLP leader said the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's (UNRWA) decision, to abide by the Israeli-pushed distribution plan, cannot be justified.

He explained that the organization is going against its mission, which obliges it to provide aid to Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip. Abu Zarifeh added that UNRWA is conforming to Israeli pressures, urging it to reassess its actions.

Furthermore, Abu Zarifeh pointed to the consensus among all Islamic and national factions in the Gaza Strip that believe that the organization's actions go hand in hand with the occupation's plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

In the same context, the organization's spokesperson, Adnan Abu Hasna, told Al Mayadeen earlier that Gaza needs around 100 truckloads of aid a day to meet the needs of forcibly displaced people.

The official emphasized that the Rafah crossing, which lies on Gaza's border with Egypt, must be opened for humanitarian aid to the besieged Strip.

On Saturday, the Rafah crossing was opened for 20 trucks with another 17 trucks following suit on Sunday.

However, experts and officials have explained that the amount of aid that has reached the Strip is not even close to meeting the needs of Gazans.

Moreover, the Strip the Israeli occupation has cut off all water and fuel for almost two weeks supplies to the Strip which has worsened the humanitarian situation in the Strip.

The first round of aid contained basic medical supplies for the most part, as social media accounts from within the Strip shared pictures of shrouds sent into the Strip which has been subject to indiscriminate Israeli bombing.