Any new sanctions imposed by the Palestinian Authority’s President, Mahmoud Abbas, on the Gaza Strip would be met by equivalent ‘popular and factional measures’, Member of Hamas Political Bureau said.

In a press release, al-Hayya added, “If Abbas imposes new sanctions on the Gaza Strip, he will be isolating himself and be overridden by his own people.”

Al-Hayya wondered how Abbas would represent a people on whom he imposes sanctions to crush their will adding that the international community would not accept such a leader as a representative for the Palestinian people.

“The Palestinian people will not surrender to the Israeli Occupation despite its ongoing aggression nor will they bow to the PA’s pressure,” al-Hayya continued.

He noted that the efforts of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov, Egypt, and Qatar ahead of Eid Al-Adha were about to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but the PA has thwarted these endeavours.

However, al-Hayya confirmed, the efforts to pressure the Israeli Occupation to lift its 12-year siege on Gaza are still ongoing. 

Regarding the increasing numbers of the participants in the Great March of Return, al-Hayya said that the Palestinian people are sending a message that they will continue their popular and peaceful protests until their demands are met.

He noted that the Palestinian people will use all means possible to achieve their demands, the foremost among them is their right to return to their homeland and removing the blockade.

“The Palestinian people deserve to live a secure and decent life on their homeland,” al-Hayya continued addressing the international community.

He called on the international community to support the Palestinian people who are looking forward to living in dignity and to reject stances biased with the Israeli Occupation.

Concerning the Israeli Occupation’s attempts to stall for time and manipulate the conditions to reach a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance, al-Hayya confirmed that the Israeli Occupation would be deluding itself if it mistakenly thought that it could crush the Palestinian people’s will by ‘buying time’.

Regarding the Hamas delegation’s visit to Cairo, al-Hayya said that the date of such meeting with Egyptian officials is not set yet.

Al-Hayya expressed his hope for the success of Egypt’s endeavours to lift the siege on Gaza and achieving a true national unity noting that Hamas has been pushing towards achieving this goal.