Palestinian factions blame Israel for Gaza raid

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Palestinian resistance factions have held Israel responsible for the consequences of a military operation in the Gaza Strip, in which seven people were martyred.

"The resistance is able to repel the enemy and revenge the blood of the martyrs,” read a statement issued by the military wings of Gaza-based resistance factions.

Seven Palestinians were martyred, including Hamas military commander Nour Baraka, when an Israeli force staged a raid in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday.

An Israeli soldier was killed and another injured in the raid.

The factions said the abortion of the Israeli raid “shows that the resistance carries the hopes of the people and protects their land”.

In an earlier statement, the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas group, said the Israeli operation was meant to carry out a “major hostile scheme”.

“The operation aimed to carry out a major hostile scheme with a view to mixing cards,” the Brigades said, without giving details about the nature of the scheme.