Hamas insignia in Ramallah (Hoheit, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons).
Hamas sources said on Monday that the terror group was considering a return to violence against Israel, while also criticising Egypt for its role in brokering a ceasefire to end the conflict in May this year.
“We are considering options for an escalation with Israel in light of the continued siege of Gaza and the delay in rehabilitating the Strip”, an unnamed source told Al Jazeera.
“We will not allow the current situation to continue and the next phase will prove the credibility of our words”, the source threatened.
The claims made reference to the ongoing joint blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel and Egypt, in place since the antisemitic terror group seized control of Gaza in 2007.
The source warned Israel that Hamas would “again blow up the situation”, referring to the group’s active role in igniting the May conflict, including firing rockets at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
The source accused Egypt of not honouring pledges to Hamas and other Gaza-based factions regarding the reconstruction of Gaza.
Egypt was also accused of preventing a number of Palestinians from leaving Gaza via the Rafeh border crossing.
“The behaviour of Egypt violates its promise to compel Israel in exchange for the resistance’s commitment to calm”, the source said.
Israel and Hamas have been conducting indirect negotiations, mediated by Egypt, in order stabilise the fragile ceasefire since the 11-day conflict in May this year.