PIJ Sec.-Gen. presents ceasefire conditions as rocket barrage fired
"The Al-Quds Brigades has not exhausted all its missiles and weapons against the enemy," warned al-Nakhla.
By TZVI JOFFRE, EZRA TAYLORRockets fly over the house where Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Bahaa Abu Al-Ata was assassinated by the IDF(photo credit: MAJDI FATHI/TPS)
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhlah said that the group will prove that they are able to battle Israel and manage such a fight successfully, in an interview with Al Mayadeen Wednesday night.Rockets were launched on both Sderot and Ashdod as al-Nakhla spoke. Soon after his speech ended, a heavy barrage of rockets was fired at central and southern Israel, setting off sirens from Ashdod to Rehovot.Al-Nakhlah also said that Hamas has not, of yet, joined the fight alongside the PIJ against Israel, adding that the terror group has not asked factions to join. The PIJ secretary general specified that they have not reached the stage of all-out war between "the axis of resistance" and Israel. The attacks were carried out in response to the assassination of PIJ official Bahaa Abu Al-Ata and the assassination attempt against a PIJ official in Damascus.The secretary-general also said that Israel conveyed a request for a ceasefire and that the terrorist group would agree to a ceasefire if Israel met three requirements: the cessation of assassinations, stopping firing on the March of Return demonstrations and the lifting of the siege on Gaza according to former agreements made in Cairo. The secretary-general stated that he expects an answer about the terms of the ceasefire tonight."The Al-Quds Brigades has not exhausted all its missiles and weapons against the enemy," warned al-Nakhla.He stressed that PIJ has decided to protect the March of Return demonstrations."For those who say that the current battle is the battle of Al-Quds Brigades, we say it is the battle of the Palestinian people," said al-Nakhlah.Al-Nakhla added that no rockets are fired by PIJ terrorists without direct commands.Al-Nakhla stated that the PIJ would continue attacking Israel as long as Israel continues its "aggression."The current round of fighting began early Tuesday morning after the IAF assassinated PIJ leader Bahaa Abu Al-Ata and his wife and attempted to assassinate a PIJ official in Damascus. Hundreds of rockets have been fired since the assassination was carried out. Israel has responded with multiple waves of attacks in the Gaza Strip against Palestinian terrorist groups.
