Hamas’ number two in Gaza believes Deif is alive

13 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Hamas’ number two in the Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Haya, said on Saturday that the head of the group’s military wing in Gaza, Mohamed Deif, is still alive despite the Israeli attack that killed 90 people near Khan Yunis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared at a press conference and said he was not “totally sure” of Deif’s death.

“I tell you, Netanyahu, you are lost. Leader Mohamed Deif is listening to you right now and is mocking your words. Netanyahu wanted a victory speech. We confirm that the claims of the occupation and Netanyahu are false,” Al Haya said in statements to the pan-Arab television Al Jazeera.

Al Haya, on the other hand, has denounced that Israel “wants to kill, destroy and attack women and children.” “It wants to expose negotiators and mediators and put pressure on the popular incubator of resistance,” it said.

On the negotiations, he said that Hamas had been “flexible” out of “conviction” and not because of “pressure.” “The world must stop this aggression against our people. In the meantime, we resist. Netanyahu does not want an agreement or the return of the prisoners (hostages). We are not going to give him what he wants and we will continue to defend our people,” he said.

Al Haya stressed that they are waiting for the mediators’ response after the “clear position” put forward by the Palestinian group. “Netanyahu’s behaviour is that of someone in crisis, cornered. Netanyahu wants to shuffle the cards,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has held a round of talks with mediators and countries in the region such as Egypt and Qatar and has urged them to do whatever is necessary to “stop the massacres,” Al Jazeera reports.

Haniyeh stressed that the group had responded positively to the latest proposal. However, “Netanyahu’s Israeli position is creating obstacles that have prevented an agreement from being reached.”