US ‘Entering Battle’ In Gaza – Hamas

By Staff, Agencies

A senior member of Hamas has said the Palestinian resistance group was surprised by America’s reaction to recent violence in Gaza, suggesting the US could enter the fight after it sent thousands of troops and a pair of aircraft carriers to the region.

In an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday, Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas’ political leadership based in Lebanon, said the group “didn’t expect this much of a response” from the US.

“An ‘Israeli’ response? Yes, we expected that,” he said. “But what we’re seeing now is the entrance of the US into the battle.”

Washington has made major shows of force in the Middle East since Hamas’ surprise October 7 operation on the ‘Israeli’ occupation, deploying two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Mediterranean, as well as an amphibious assault ship carrying 2,000 sailors and marines. US officials have said the moves were meant to deter outside actors from taking part in the Gaza war.

The ‘Israeli’ occupation forces have pounded Gaza with airstrikes in response to Hamas’ surprise operation earlier this month, which killed at least 1,400 Zionist soldiers and settlers, according to ‘Israeli’ officials. More than 7,000 Palestinians have been martyred in weeks of ‘Israeli’ bombing since, with ‘Israel’ now preparing a significant ground operation in an attempt to eliminate Hamas.

Barakeh went on to say the resistance group had at least 40,000 fighters in its ranks, and that most were based in extensive tunnel networks built under Gaza. “We have been prepared for a ground offensive,” he added, explaining that the underground complex is stocked with months of supplies.