PIJ martyrs planned to travel to Cairo for talks before assassination

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Al-Quds reported on Tuesday that the three Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ) senior leaders that were martyred earlier this morning were assassinated by the IOF as they were bidding farewell to their families right before they were due to travel to Cairo.

The report states that all three martyrs had just received confirmation from Egypt that they would be granted permission to travel along with a delegation of PIJ political officials to Cairo and abroad for talks.

As soon as confirmation for travel was received, the three of them headed to their families to bid them farewell, whereupon the IOF assassinated them along with their wives and children. 

In a similar vein, Al-Arabi Al-Jadid reported this morning from Egyptian sources that the Egyptian mediators were furious of the Israelis for the deception. According to the report, Egyptian mediators had agreed with the Israeli occupation following the last round of fighting that "Israel" would put aside the policy of assassinations in Gaza.

An Egyptian source told the newspaper that mediators are still discussing whether to intervene for calm or postpone mediation until the Israeli government "realizes the magnitude of its mistake", especially in light of the possibility of a united retaliation by resistance factions.

The head of Hamas' Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, stated early this morning that the assassination operation will not give "Israel" more security, but only "more resistance", and that "the enemy was wrong in its assessments and will pay a price for its crimes." He emphasized that "the resistance alone" will determine how to respond to "Israel", and that "the resistance is united in the conflict."

The Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip resulted in a total of 13 martyrs and the injury of 20 others.

Read more: Al-Quds Brigades mourns its martyrs, says resistance will continue

The PIJ issued a  statement shortly after their martyrdom was announced, noting that "that the blood of the martyrs will increase our determination; we will not abandon our posts, and resistance will continue, God willing."

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a statement mourning the martyrs of the Al-Quds Brigades, affirming that the enemy will pay the price for the assassinations committed in Gaza.

The Front said in its statement that "losing any of the resistance leaders due to this cowardly assassination will not break the will of our people and their resistance."

The Front's statement also noted that "the enemy chose the time to ignite this confrontation, but our people and the resistance will determine the time it ends." 

Likewise, Fatah spokesperson Munir Al-Hayek said that the Israeli terrorist government committed a heinous crime in the middle of the night, devoid of any shred of humanity. In a statement, he pointed out that the occupation's government has lost its mind and is practicing murder, relying on the support of the silent but supportive international community. We mourn the righteous martyrs and affirm that we will not stop no matter the sacrifices made.

Read more: “Israel” assassinates senior PIJ officials in Gaza air raid