He further charged that israel's "aggression" against the Gaza Strip amounts to "war crimes."

"The enemy and his cowardly army could not confront our brave men, so he resorted to committing massacres," Haneyya said in a televised speech. 

“The occupation thinks that by carrying out massacres, it will be able to erase the humiliation and defeat that followed the Aqsa battle,” he added.

Haneyya asserted that the people of Gaza are firmly rooted in their country and will not leave it in response to Israel's plans to displace them and relocate them in Sinai.

“I inform the enemy that the strategic strike you suffered indicates that our liberation and return are imminent. I salute our brothers in Egypt and tell them that it is our decision to remain in our land, and your decision is our decision,” he added.

On the other hand, he reaffirmed that Hamas does not target civilians, children, or women.

"I want to express my gratitude to the masses who demonstrated their support for Gaza in Arab and international capitals, and I urge them to keep doing so. We will keep fighting until we have a state, our prisoners are freed, our holy places are restored, and our refugees are allowed to go home,” the Hamas leader concluded. (ILKHA)