Israel is pushing the region towards war, warns Hamas

The Islamic Hamas movement that runs the besieged coastal enclave said on Thursday that the Israeli occupation is pushing matters towards escalation in the Palestinian territories by continuing to commit massacres against the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

Speaking to The New Arab, Hamas' spokesperson Hazem Qassem said, "The Israeli policy, which is criminal, will push the region towards a big explosion and armed confrontation with the resistance."

"The resistance in the Gaza Strip is ready for any interference in the face of the escalation of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Jerusalem," he added. 

He noted that the occupied Palestinian territories are experiencing a great escalation, despite what he described as  Washington's "illusionary talks" about de-escalation.

He stressed that the resistance in Gaza, particularly the al-Qassam Brigades, warned that their patience was running out in the face of Israel's continued attacks.

"The resistance is preparing itself for the hour of intervention in the event that the occupation crosses red lines, and the resistance in Gaza is a solid ground for the resistance action in the West Bank and provides it with everything necessary," he continued.

"The Israeli occupation will be forced to pay a high cost in the event of any confrontation with Gaza, which its government or army will not be able to bear," Qassem stressed. "The occupation is terrified of Gaza's intervention in this battle, and it is moving mediation for fear of that."

Officials from Hamas pointed out that the US position was and continues to be always of the occupation and therefore is not a reliable mediator.

Qassem's remarks came hours later of the Israeli army killed at least four Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry. 

Three Palestinians belonged to the Jaba Brigades - an offshoot of the Jenin Brigades - and were shot in their car while travelling through the village of Jaba in the northern occupied West Bank.

Images shared on social media showed their bloodied bodies.

They were identified by the Palestinian health ministry as Sufyan Adnan Fakhoury - whose age could not be confirmed - Nayef Ahmad Malaysha, 25, and Ahmad Muhammad Fashafsha, 22.

Thousands of mourners gathered as they were laid to rest on Thursday.

Since the beginning of this year, the Israeli troops killed at least 76 Palestinians, including 14 women and children, according to official data issued by the Palestinian interior ministry.