Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades announced on Wednesday that they would launch a “flood of martyrdom operations,” or suicide attacks, against Israel, a declaration that appears to undermine any chance that Secretary of State Antony Blinken's ongoing visit to Egypt could lead to a lasting ceasefire between the jihadists and Israel.
Blinken Departed Trump arrived in Egypt on Tuesday and spent much of Wednesday in talks with strongman President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Foreign Minister Badr Abdellathi. Abdellathi told reporters that much of the talks were focused on boosting trade, tourism and academic ties between Cairo and Washington, but also included working on a “bridge proposal” for a ceasefire in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Blinken has spent much of the past year, on behalf of left-leaning US President Joe Biden, trying to negotiate an end to Israel's defensive operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which it has controlled for nearly two decades. At the time of writing, all attempts have failed, as the Biden administration has been unable to convince Israeli authorities to allow Hamas to survive and continue to threaten the country following the October 7 Israeli invasion and massacre of an estimated 1,200 civilians.
A final attempt to persuade Israel and Hamas to comply with a “bridge proposal” in August failed when Blinken claimed, without explaining why, that it was the “last chance” for such an agreement. The signed agreement would have coincided with the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, giving Biden's party a diplomatic win that it could tout during its election events.
Now, while Blinken is negotiating a possible new ceasefire deal with top mediator Egypt, Hamas jihadists are calling for suicide bombings in the region in an attempt to thwart Israel's defensive operations.
in video In this video showing various explosions in Gaza, a Hamas terrorist standing in what appears to be the southern Gaza city of Rafah threatens a dramatic escalation of deadly terrorism as he steps in front of a bulldozer and attempts to set it on fire.
“You have ignited a fire that will never be extinguished until we drive you from our homes and our land…we have prepared you for certain death,” the terrorists declared, according to a translation by Iran's propaganda agency. Press TV“The fire you set will consume you and bring a curse on yourself, your colonists, and your troops.”
Iran is the world's largest sponsor of terrorism and a major financial donor to Hamas. $100 million per year About funding Hamas and similar Palestinian terrorist organizations.
“And we, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, say to our oppressive enemies: the rivers of blood flowing on the soil of Gaza will be met with a flood of martyrdom operations that will turn the situation upside down on your own soil,” the terrorists declare in the video. “This is truly a battle for victory or martyrdom.”
“The only reward for blood is blood,” Hamas warned.
Jordanian media Roya News Explained The video was intended to herald the “revival of Operation Martyrdom.” meaning Suicide attack
Hamas had already begun hinting at a resumption of large-scale suicide bombing operations in August after Blinken's “bridge proposal” failed.
“Today, we need an escalation of this conflict in the West Bank, within the 1948 borders and in the diaspora,” terrorist leader Khaled Mashal, who heads Hamas' “Diaspora Office,” declared in a speech in Turkey that month. “Today, we saw some signs of a successful martyrdom operation in the West Bank. We want to return to a martyrdom operation. This requires a full-scale conflict.”
“We should unleash all forms of resistance, first and foremost martyrdom operations,” Mashal reiterated. “We should engage in these operations. We should engage in all-out confrontation.”
The Biden administration has largely ignored Hamas' calls for violence, arguing that dialogue and negotiations between Israel and the genocidal terror group are the only path to an end to the conflict. In a speech in Egypt on Wednesday, Blinken reiterated that the two sides must muster the “political will” to reach an agreement.
““Everyone knows a cease-fire is our best chance to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and address the risks to regional stability,” Blinken told reporters at a news conference with top diplomats in Cairo. “We are focused on making this cease-fire a success… It is essential that everyone avoids actions that could further escalate or expand the conflict.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken maintained that the peace agreement he is working on with the Egyptian and Qatari governments is making significant progress. said It is not yet ready to be submitted to Israel, the reporters said.
“We've made great progress in the last month, month and a half,” Blinken said. “There are 18 provisions in the agreement, 15 of them have been agreed to. But we need to work out the remaining issues.”
“This solution is not so much a matter of content as it is a matter of political will. It is important for both sides to demonstrate political will to conclude this agreement,” Blinken said.
The Israeli government ignored the existence of 18 clauses in the proposed agreement and on Thursday presented Hamas with its own draft agreement, a framework in which Israel would not kill Hamas leaders in exchange for Hamas releasing all remaining hostages (estimated to be 101 people) on October 7.
“The proposed plan would include the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and the creation of a new governance system for the Strip, the report said. No further details were given.” The Israel Times Reported.
