Ziyad al-Nakhalah: Israeli captives for all Palestinian prisoners
4 Min Read
The PIJ Secretary-General says the Resistance will force the occupation to concede to further political conditions.
-
Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhaklah, November 24, 2023 (Screengrab)
The Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, affirmed on Friday that achieving the temporary truce is an explicit recognition of the occupation's failure to achieve its objectives of unconditionally retaining its captives held in Gaza.
He stated that the agreement was reached due to the setbacks and losses suffered by the Israeli occupation forces while advancing on the battlefront, noting that the invading forces barely infiltrated an area of 50 square kilometers.
Al-Nakhalah explained in a televised speech that the intensified Israeli aggression faced increasingly valiant resistance, forcing the occupation to negotiate for the release of their captives.
The PIJ Secretary-General also added that the temporary truce wouldn't have taken place if the occupation hadn't suffered intense casualties on the battlefield.
PIJ Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhalah: "We are witnessing a prisoner exchange deal the enemy wouldn't have accepted were it not for its losses on the battlefield." https://t.co/bMuDdymNQg
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 24, 2023
Al-Nakhalah emphasized that the remaining Israeli captives, including officers and soldiers, "will not be released without the liberation of the remaining Palestinian prisoners [all of them], and this will not happen before the end of the aggression."
He vowed that the Resistance would later compel the Israeli occupation to a large-scale prisoner exchange ensuring the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners based on an all-for-all equation.
Al-Nakhalah also expressed optimism that the efforts of the Resistance will compel the occupation into conceding further political conditions that "will open important prospects for our people and their freedom, despite [the enemy's] ostensible stubbornness."
Al-Nakhalah warned, however, that the occupation is still hell-bent on achieving the objectives they have set since the beginning of the aggression despite the truce, emphasizing the need to continue fighting to stop the aggression.
He also pointed out that it would be an oversimplification to interpret the Israeli aggression on Gaza as being strictly a response to the Resistance's operation on October 7. The aggression, he explained, is rather connected to US geopolitical arrangements in the Middle East, as has been proven.
The PIJ chief explained that the United States and "Israel" are attempting to reshape the region and the world, pointing out that the US stakes are what explains the American participation in the aggression against the Palestinian people.
He affirmed that the fighters of the PIJ are partaking in the confrontations against the Israeli occupation, enforcing heavy losses.
Addressing those who speak of the prospect of the future governance of Gaza, he said, "Stop the chatter and focus on defending your people; this is the path to freedom, not negotiating with the enemies."
Al-Nakhalah further affirmed that the Resistance "will not be broken nor will it surrender. We will continue to fight. This is our choice today more than ever." He pointed out that the Palestinian people, after all these sacrifices, express the will of all the free people of the world.
He concluded his speech by acknowledging the efforts of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon and the Resistance in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, who are supporting the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza in the fight against the Israeli occupation.
Read more: Four-day truce came into effect seven weeks into aggression on Gaza
One hour after taking effect, Israeli forces violate temporary truce
Al Mayadeen's correspondent from Salah al-Din Street in the central Gaza Strip, which connects all the districts, reported that “the occupation opened fire and launched an artillery shell toward residents in the Salah al-Din area.”
Our correspondent confirmed that “the occupation tanks are still inside the town and are stationed in front of the Kuwait Roundabout.”
Similarly, residents of Beit Hanoun reported that “the occupation army is still inside the town and has not withdrawn to its outskirts and is arresting a number of young men and shooting them.”
Locals have reported several injuries as Israeli occupation forces have reportedly opened fire at a pool of people trying to get to Beit Hanoun.
A Palestinian mother from the Salah al-Din area in central Gaza told Al Mayadeen that the IOF prevented her from visiting the grave of her son who was martyred during the aggression.
Read more: Israelis say expect 2 additional months of fighting
