By Xinhua,
Gaza : Armed Palestinian groups on Saturday said they are ready to face any Israeli invasion of Gaza Strip, adding the way to Gaza will not be garnished with flowers. Their statements followed reports that the Israeli governmenth as given its initial acceptance to the army to carry out a series of attacks into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Abu Obaida, a spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, ruled out ground invasions into Gaza Strip, saying he expected the army to attack Gaza from the air. “I think the occupation can not carryout wide ground operation in the Strip but it can shell the housesfrom the sky and cause casualties.”
He added that Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas was prepared for any Israeli military escalation. “Gaza’s ground will not be spread with roses.”
On Friday, the Islamic Jihad movement, which is the second largest Islamist force in Gaza, said it was ready to “face any aggression or new invasion against Gaza Strip.”” There is an attempt to build pressure on the Palestinian resistance and terrifying it,” said Abu Ahmad, spokesman for the Islamic Jihad’s armed wing.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s intelligence chief Omar Suleiman has warned Hamas that Israel will strike against its leaders if the Islamic movement did not release an Israeli soldier it holds in Gaza since June 2006.
Egypt are mediating to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza Strip to avoid a wide offensive and ease the siege that Israel imposed on Gaza since Hamas took over the territory byforce nearly one year ago.
Hamas accepted the Egyptian ceasefire offer but Israel demanded that the captive soldier, Gilad Shalit, be released under the ceasefire’s deal. Hamas says Shalit’s issue should be dealt with away from the ceasefire deal.
Hamas will send a delegation to Egypt on Monday for more discussions on achieving the ceasefire deal, a spokesman for the Islamic movement said on Saturday.
It is reported that Egypt plans to invite other Palestinian factions into Cairo again “to agree on the basics of performance for the next phase.”