Islamic Jihad chief urges all Palestinian fighters to defend occupied al-Quds, al-Aqsa Mosque

Speaking at a ceremony entitled “Resistance is the path to liberation” in Gaza City on Monday, Ziyad al-Nakhalah stated that demolition of Palestinian-owned homes across the West Bank and the killing of innocent people require Palestinian resistance fighters not to hesitate for a moment to fight the Israeli enemy and resist the regime’s actions through all available means.

He said it is a duty to engage Israeli military forces anywhere in the occupied West Bank, and disempower the troops.

The Islamic Jihad chief also stressed the need for mobilization of Palestinians against the Israeli occupation, stating that such a move requires participation and cooperation of all political and social forces.

Nakhalah reiterated his group's firm stance that the only path before the Palestinian nation is continued resistance.

“The illusions of a [political] settlement with the Zionist enemy must be dispelled, and a national unity plan which demands the historical rights of all Palestinians must take precedence over anything else,” he pointed out.

“The resistance front in Palestine and the region is now stronger than ever, and the enemy, despite being in possession of all kinds of munitions, is weaker than ever. There is abundant evidence to support this premise,” Nakhalah said.

Israel occupied the West Bank and East al-Quds after the 1967 Middle East war.

Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law.

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds.