Palestinian resistance capable of dealing with big wars: IRGC chief

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Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Major General Hossein Salami praised on Saturday the Palestinian resistance's capabilities as well as its ability to develop the power to deal with large-scale wars against the Israeli occupation.

"The collapse of the Zionist regime may not even require a war," the Iranian leader said during a meeting with Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziad Al-Nakhalah in Tehran. He also went on to describe the liberation of Palestine as a "definite strategy".

"Our goal and strategy are to liberate holy Al-Quds and return the lost and occupied territories of Palestine to its true owners," the IRGC commander said.

Salami stressed that the resistance's potential and active capacities indicate that it has become capable of handling large-scale wars.

"The course of developments in occupied Palestine and the decline of the Zionists' power, who are moving towards their downfall and collapse, is a one-way road, and the liberation of holy Al-Quds. It is in sight, by God's grace," the Iranian defense official underscored.

The Israeli occupation has been thrown psychologically into "the path of decay", he said, pushed by "the surge in the inherent weakness of the Zionist regime."

There is every indication that the Zionists are falling apart from within, the IRGC chief stated, adding that the collapse of "Israel" may not even need the Palestinian resistance to engage in a war.

He went on to laud the Palestinian resistance for its unity and solidarity in the face of the Israeli occupation. reaffirming Tehran's solidarity with Palestine and its commitment to continuing and broadening support for the resistance.

Salami then condemned "the Zionist regime's criminal and aggressive move to attack the Gaza Strip."

"Undoubtedly, the rapid response from the Islamic resistance of Palestine to this crime indicates that the new chapter of gaining power in the resistance current has started, and the Zionists will pay another heavy price for the recent atrocity," he stressed.

"So far, 361 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip," Israeli Channel 13 reported earlier tonight. "A salvo of rockets was launched toward Tel Aviv and the central area. Two rockets were intercepted."

The Israeli ministry of security has started implementing its plans to evacuate the Israeli settlements erected in the Gaza envelope, Israeli media reported.

The Palestinian resistance on Friday started responding to the Israeli occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip by launching salvoes of rockets toward the occupied Palestinian territories.

The launching of rockets toward the Israeli occupation come in retaliation after Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that explosions were heard in the Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine. The shelling targeted the Palestine Tower in the center of Gaza city.

The Israeli aggression left several martyrs, including a 5-year-old girl, and at least 125 critically wounded, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported, citing Palestinian medical sources.

Al-Quds Brigades, PIJ's military wing, announced the martyrdom of Taiseer Al-Jaabari, a military commander in the northern Gaza Strip.

Shortly thereafter, all of the Palestinian resistance factions issued statements condemning the Israeli occupation's aggression and its assassination of resistance figures and leaders, as well as solidifying the resistance's unity against the Israeli aggressors.

The head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's media office, Daoud Shehab, confirmed Saturday that there was no talk about any de-escalation for now, with no ceasefire on the horizon.