Jihad: We won't cease rocket fire
Responding to statements made by al-Quds Brigades official, Islamic Jihad leader say organization has no plans to halt rocket fire at Israel, add retaliation is Palestinians' 'sacred duty'
Islamic Jihad senior leader Khaled al-Batash denied reports that the organization has decided to cease its Qassam attacks on Israel for one week. Al-Batash said that the group had no connection to statements made earlier by an al-Quds Brigades official, who said the Jihad's military wing intends to halt rocket fire.
Another Jihad official, Sheikh Khader Habib, said Sunday noon that it was not only the Palestinians' right, but also their sacred duty, to retaliate against Israel. Habib vowed that "the Jihad and the other groups will soon teach the rulers of Tel Aviv a lesson they will not forget."
A senior member of the Islamic Jihad's military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, said on Sunday that the organization decided to halt for one week Qassam attacks on Israel. According to the top activist, the decision was taken in a bid to prevent further escalation on the Israeli side and its effects on the Palestinian people.
Sources in the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip said they believe that even if the group does declare an end to the violence, other organizations will not follow suit.
On Sunday morning, both the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and the Abu-Reish Brigades announced they would continue firing rockets at Israel. A spokesman for the Abu-Reish brigades also said that the group plans on renewing suicide bombings against Israel.
The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades declared a "top alert" situation among its members and instructed all activists to increase rocket strikes.
'Israel will need to stop its aggression'
The Jihad official also said that "in light of the escalation and increase in Israeli crimes, and the ongoing bombardments, the organization has decided to stop all Qassam firing at Israeli communities near the Strip."
According to the official, the group formulated its stance from a position of strength, not weakness: "We look after the Palestinian interest and the internal situation in which the Palestinian leadership faces heavy international pressures." He also added that Israel will need to stop its aggression and military actions, or else the al-Quds Brigades would resume attacks against Israeli targets.
"The decision was taken in order to prove Israel is the one initiating the strikes on the Palestinian people, and that we and the other groups are merely responding to Israel's aggression out of self defense, not blood thirst."
