GAZA, Aug 23 (NNN-WAFA) – Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), yesterday held a joint meeting in the Gaza Strip, weeks after deadly Israeli strikes against the PIJ in the Palestinian enclave, vowing to support each other’s resistance against the Israeli occupation.
The meeting, attended by members of the two factions’ political and military leaders, was “positive,” Khader Habib, a senior PIJ leader, said, adding, Hamas and PIJ agreed to strengthen ties to support “the two groups’ strategy of resisting Israeli occupation.”
A joint statement issued after the meeting described “armed resistance” as “the choice of the two movements,” warning Israel against “any future assaults against the Palestinian people and members of the armed resistance.”
“There is no retreat, no hesitation, and it will continue under high coordination between the two movements and all other factions,” the statement said, adding, “our response will be firm, decisive, and united.”
On Aug 5, Israeli fighter jets carried out intensive airstrikes on PIJ targets for three days, killing two of its top militants. In response, Gazan militants fired barrages of rockets at Israel.
Hamas didn’t join the round of fighting, which ended after Egypt brokered a cease-fire between Israel and PIJ on Aug 7. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, about 50 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in the Israeli strikes.
