Israeli venture in Rafah doomed to failure: PIJ's al-Hindi - Exclusive
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The PIJ's Deputy Secretary-General tells Al Mayadeen that there is a national consensus on the draft ceasefire agreement endorsed by the mediators, including the United States.
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Deputy Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, Mohammad al-Hindi (Screengrab)
Deputy secretary-general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, Mohammad al-Hindi, considered Tuesday that the proposal for a ceasefire agreement has not collapsed, clarifying that it is currently "in the hands of the mediators."
Al-Hindi affirmed to Al Mayadeen that there is a national consensus on the draft agreement endorsed by the mediators, including the United States, adding that the document presented by Hamas on behalf of the Resistance factions represents the Palestinian national stance.
The PIJ official indicated that the Palestinian consensus is met with Israeli confusion, adding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost all means of pressure and does not want an agreement, as it would depict the end of his political career.
He reiterated that the stance of the Resistance remains clear and prioritizes the interests of the Palestinian people, which is also echoed by the mediators who are today under trial.
Al-Hindi mentioned that the main issue that needed to be discussed in the agreement was a ceasefire and its "sustainability", affirming that the mediators provided guarantees for a permanent cessation of hostilities.
The Palestinian official said, contrary to Israeli claims, that "Israel's" approval of the mediators' proposal was conveyed to the Resistance.
Rafah: A new Israeli failure
Touching on the Israeli invasion of Rafah and the occupation of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the PIJ official considered that it was an Israeli maneuver because the ceasefire agreement stipulated a complete withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza.
He vowed that the Israeli venture in Rafah was doomed to failure and would cause significant losses among the ranks of the Israeli occupation forces.
Al-Hindi said that all Israeli military options in southern Gaza have no horizon, underlining that the withdrawal from Rafah will represent a new failure for "Israel".
Elsewhere, the Palestinian official pointed out that "Israel", which the West used to brag about its "democracy", is now seen as an extremist Nazi-like entity.
In a ground invasion, Israeli occupation forces occupied the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, despite Hamas' earlier announcement that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal presented by mediators Egypt and Qatar.
Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that the invasion of Rafah "will continue until we eliminate Hamas in the Rafah area and the entire Gaza Strip," or until the first captive is retrieved.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also claimed Tuesday that the occupation of the Rafah crossing is "an important step on the way to destroying the remaining military capabilities of Hamas."
Read more: Any non-Palestinian actor at Rafah crossing is legitimate target: PFLP
