Hamas leader Haniyeh: Battle 鈥榳ill spread to West Bank, Jerusalem鈥�

This handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency on shows leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement Ismail Haniyeh arriving to meet the Iranian president in Tehran on June 20, 2023.
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  • Saturday morning was one of 鈥榙efeat and humiliation鈥� for Israel, says Hamas leader
  • Hamas fighters caught Israel off guard on Saturday with a full-scale operation

GAZA: Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, said on Saturday that armed Palestinian factions intend to expand the ongoing battle in Gaza to the West Bank and Jerusalem. 

The battle moved into the heart of the 鈥渮ionist entity,鈥� he said. 

鈥淭his was the morning of defeat and humiliation upon our enemy, its soldiers, and its settlers,鈥� he said. 

鈥淲hat happened reveals the greatness of our preparation. What happened today reveals the weakness of the enemy.鈥�

He told fellow Arab countries that Israel cannot provide them with any protection despite recent diplomatic rapprochements.

In a televised speech, Haniyeh addressed the Arab countries that have normalized ties with Israel in recent years.

鈥淲e say to all countries, including our Arab brothers, that this entity, which cannot protect itself in the face of resistors, cannot provide you with any protection,鈥� he said.

鈥淎ll the normalization agreements you signed with that entity cannot resolve this (Palestinian) conflict.鈥�

The leader of Hamas鈥� military wing, Mohammed Deif, said Saturday鈥檚 assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at Al-Aqsa and increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians, and growth of settlements.

鈥淓nough is enough,鈥� Deif said in the recorded message. 

He said the morning attack started 鈥淥peration Al-Aqsa Storm鈥� and called on Palestinians from East Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. 

鈥淭oday, the people are regaining their revolution.鈥�

Asked by reporters how Hamas had managed to catch the army off guard, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli army spokesman, replied, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a good question.鈥�

Videos released by Hamas appeared to show at least three Israelis captured alive.

The Israeli military confirmed that a number of Israelis had been taken captive. 

A top Hamas official, Saleh Arouri, said that his group was holding 鈥渁 large number鈥� of Israeli prisoners, including senior officers, adding that they would be used in a prisoner exchange to free Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. 

Abu Obeida, spokesman for the group鈥檚 military wing, said the soldiers were captured during a surprise infiltration into southern Israel.

He said the captives were being held in 鈥渟afe places.鈥�