<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-top-anchor"></div>
<div id="gmail-toolbar" class="gmail-toolbar-container">
</div><div class="gmail-container" lang="en-EN" dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-header gmail-reader-header gmail-reader-show-element">
<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/exclusive--hamas-says-rafah-brigades-have-a-surprise-in-stor">english.almayadeen.net</a>
<div class="gmail-domain-border"></div>
<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Exclusive: Hamas says Rafah brigades have a surprise in store</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen Net</div>
<div class="gmail-meta-data">
<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">April 25, 2024<br></div>
</div>
</div>
<hr>
<div class="gmail-content">
<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>Ali
Baraka, the head of Hamas' Foreign Relations Department, underscores
that while the Rafah Brigades have refrained from direct involvement,
they have diligently upheld their equipment and capabilities. </p><img src="cid:ii_lvfd0ybo0" alt="8cbe71ad-4d20-4d6b-81e7-5266680eb407.jpg" width="394" height="325"><br><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
Ali Baraka, head of Hamas' Foreign Relations Department
pointing at an area in besieged Gaza. (Al Mayadeen Net; Illustrated by
Hawraa Ali)
</li></div></ul>
<p>The Rafah brigades have not yet been involved in the ongoing war,
however, they are prepared for a potential confrontation, Ali Baraka,
the head of Hamas' Foreign Relations Department, told <strong>Al Mayadeen Net</strong> on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Baraka emphasized that despite them still not having participated,
the Rafah Brigades have maintained their equipment and capabilities,
leveraging experience gained from previous battles.</p>
<p>He cautioned that any Israeli invasion of Rafah should expect significant losses in terms of personnel and military assets.</p>
<p>Commenting on tunnel warfare, Baraka affirmed that the IOF were
unable to enter and act offensively inside the Hamas tunnel network.</p>
<p>He further detailed that Palestinian fighters used the tunnels to
carry out operations, with the network spread underground from North to
South, assuring that the enemy had been taken aback by Palestinian
weaponry.</p>
<p>Currently, the IOF are engaged in a war of attrition and find themselves trapped in Gaza. </p>
<p>The top Hamas official said that the enemy experienced two surprises
in this ongoing battle: the first occurred on October 7, and yesterday
saw the resignation of Aharon Haliva, the head of the Israeli Military
Intelligence Directorate Aman, acknowledging his failure to anticipate
such a significant attack. The second surprise was the unexpected
strength displayed by Resistance forces in ground combat.</p>
<h2>Is the US helpless against 'Israel'?</h2>
<p>On Hamas' military capabilities, Baraka affirmed that the Palestinian
Resistance has shifted towards local manufacturing and has utilized
time effectively.</p>
<p>"Over the past 10 years, preparations have been made for this battle,
with the Resistance benefiting from the experiences of allies in Syria
and Iran, who assisted in transferring military technology," he
stressed.</p>
<p>Regarding the airdrop of aid, he commented, "Firstly, we do not
prohibit aid from anyone, as the hungry seek to secure food and medicine
for their families. But why drop aid from the air? Are America, along
with Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE, so helpless against Israel that they
are unable to deliver aid through the Rafah or Kerem Shalom crossings?
It's part of Israel's policy of starvation and humiliation."</p>
<p>Elsewhere in his remarks, he emphasized the urgent need for Arab
nations to provide aid, stressing the requirement for 500 trucks daily.
He further urged for immediate action, calling for an Arab delegation to
cross the Rafah crossing, reminiscent of the 2012 event that broke the
siege on the Palestinian people.</p>
<p>Baraka's plea extended to the populace, urging thousands to mobilize and facilitate the delivery of essential medicine and food.</p>
<h2>Supporting fronts paralyzed and disrupted IOF</h2>
<p>After the 1,998 operations conducted by all supporting fronts in
Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq during the 200 days of aggression, Baraka
affirmed that these were "real fronts" in the war, disrupting and
paralyzing the enemy.</p>
<p>He also stressed that the enemy is constrained in the Lebanese front,
realizing that after its failure in Gaza, it could not open a new
front.</p>
<p>The Lebanese front has presented more than 300 martyrs, immobilizing
the movement of the occupying army, which was forced to transfer four
brigades from the South to the North, relieving pressure on the Gaza
front, he further contended.</p>
<p>"This also led to the displacement of more than 100,000 settlers from
al-Jalil [Galilee], with material losses exceeding a billion dollars,
in addition to the paralysis of economic activity in the North. If you
monitor the past week's development, starting with the <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iof-admits-ranking-officer-killed-in-hezbollah-arab-aramasha" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arab al-Aramshe Operation</a>,
you will notice that the Resistance is conducting important operations,
and the Zionist enemy is considering the Resistance's moves a thousand
times," Baraka told <strong>Al Mayadeen Net</strong>.</p>
<p>He added, "The enemy realizes that after its failure in the Gaza Strip, it cannot open a major front because the <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hezbollah-mp--lebanese-resistance-ready-for-all-scenarios" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lebanese Resistance</a> is larger and stronger due to the open supply from Syria and Iran, unlike besieged Gaza."</p>
<h2>Yemen shut down port of Eilat</h2>
<p>Regarding the Yemeni front, Baraka elaborated that <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/what-the-west-needs-to-know-about-yemen-s-ansar-allah" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ansar Allah</a>
disrupted Red Sea navigation, shut down the Israeli port of Eilat and
also blocked ships from delivering goods to "Israel", causing an
international crisis.</p>
<p>The actions undertaken have offered crucial aid and relief to the residents of Gaza, as per Baraka.</p>
<p>Additionally, he extended his regards to Yemen, "a nation enduring a prolonged siege and grappling with a US-led Arab struggle."</p>
<p>Despite Yemen's challenges, the nation remains steadfast in its
support for the Palestinian cause, emphasizing that the captives held by
the Yemeni Armed Forces are bound to the solution put forward by the
Al-Qassam Brigades, he stressed.</p>
<p>He further mentioned that the <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iraqi-resistance-calls-for-united-front-against-us-occupatio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iraqi Resistance</a>, which, despite disagreements with the government, has targeted US bases with rockets and <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iraqi-resistance-says-targeted-israeli-security-ministry-wit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drones</a>, affirming that Gaza is not alone.</p>
<h2>Iranian drones paved the way for a new front </h2>
<p>During the exclusive interview for <strong>Al Mayadeen Net</strong>, Baraka spoke extensively about what he described as "the night of the drones" over al-Quds and Palestine, elaborating on "the <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-attack-on--israel--from-iranian-territories-to-send-mes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iranian response</a>, which was a strategic response that greatly impacted the Zionist entity."</p>
<p>"There was a difficult psychological situation, if we may say so. The
drones arrived, flew, sent images and information, and revealed who
stands with the occupation in any upcoming war," he tersely stated.</p>
<p>As he describes what happened as a "live maneuver," he says, "Our
people in Palestine rejoiced to see allied rockets lighting up the sky
of al-Quds, sending a strong message to our people, and that itself
sufficient."</p>
<p>The top Hamas official emphasized that the Iranian strike is no less
important than Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which paved the way for the
upcoming liberation battle.</p>
<h2>'Why do you blame Iran?'</h2>
<p>As he sarcastically asked, "Why do you blame Iran?" Baraka clarified
that its leadership did not claim that this strike would liberate
Palestine, but rather it was a punishment for the attack on its <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--violated-intl--law-by-attacking-iranian-consulate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consulate </a>in Damascus. </p>
<p>"The Iranian strike revealed that Israel cannot defend itself alone
and exposed its psychological weakness. Contrary to what they claim, the
strike achieved its objectives excellently and boosted morale regarding
a new front," he stated.</p>
<p>Regarding what was said to be an <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iranians-mock-israeli-strike-on-isfahan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israeli response</a>,
he commented, "What happened was a farce, consisting of three small
drones launched from somewhere inside Iran by US and Israeli agents and
then amplified in the media."</p>
<h2>Unified Resistance: Factions stand firm in West Bank confrontation</h2>
<p>The senior Hamas official additionally disclosed that Israeli plans are underway for the occupied West Bank, involving <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/palestinian-teenager-killed-by-israeli-forces-in-occupied-we" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killings</a>, house demolitions, and the burning of farms and vehicles, aimed at compelling large-scale displacement to Jordan.</p>
<p>He warned, "This is a real and serious matter. Therefore, now the
Palestinian Resistance [with all its factions] has decided to confront
the occupation in the West Bank and face settlement projects and
displacement." </p>
<p>"This is a real and serious issue. Therefore, the Palestinian
Resistance, along with all its factions, has now decided to confront the
occupation in the West Bank and oppose settlement projects and
displacement," he cautioned. </p>
<p>Furthermore, Baraka has offered insights into the ongoing
negotiations, suggesting that the US administration is grappling with
Israeli pressure tactics.</p>
<p>He indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refrains
from responding to Iran due to purported support from the US against
Resistance movements like Hamas in Gaza. This stance, according to
Baraka, stems from US concerns about regional stability and its
interests, thus seeking to prevent further escalation in the region.</p>
<p>"The Americans are now complicit in Israeli war crimes in Gaza. They
are the ones covering and arming the occupation, thus succumbing to
Israeli blackmail and decisions," he stressed.</p>
<p>He concluded by clarifying, "Qatar did not ask the Hamas leadership
to leave; there is a welcoming, embracing, and strict security
protection for Hamas there, because the enemy threatened and <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-considers-alternatives-due-to-failure-of-ceasefire-neg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pressured Doha</a> and blackmailed it, and Netanyahu's government wants it to pressure Hamas, so rumors were spread." </p>
<p><strong>Read next: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/source-close-to-hamas--no-pressure-for-hamas-to-leave-qatar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source close to Hamas: No pressure on Hamas to leave Qatar: Exclusive</a></strong></p></div></div></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>