GAZA CITY
The deputy head of the political office of Palestinian faction Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, said late on Thursday that his movement becomes stronger by the assassination of its leaders.
"We assure everybody that we will continue to move ahead, even with the pains we feel at the absence of our leaders in the field," Haniyeh said.
"The history of our movement had proved that it becomes stronger after the assassination of its leaders," he added in a statement.
Earlier on Thursday, Hamas said three senior commanders of its armed wing, Qassam Brigades, were assassinated by Israel earlier.
Israel confirmed the killing of the three commanders later, saying it killed them in a raid on a home in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.
In his statement, Haniyeh said Israel paid a dear price since the beginning of its military operation on the Gaza Strip.
"The Palestinian resistance has quashed the pride of the Israeli army," Haniyeh said.
At least 2086 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since July 7.
Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza on Tuesday, following a five-day hiatus, a time during which Palestinian and Israeli negotiators sought to reach a permanent ceasefire under Egyptian mediation.
The indirect talks, which had taken place in the Egyptian capital Cairo, fell apart on Tuesday.
A total of 67 Israelis, including 64 troops and three civilians, were also killed in the same period of time.
By Mustafa Haboosh
www.aa.com.tr/en
