Various Palestinian armed groups hold joint military exercise in Gaza to 'simulate war with Israel'

For the fourth year in a row, around 12 Palestinian militant groups held on Tuesday, 12 September, a joint "military manoeuvre" in the Gaza Strip as tension increased in the occupied West Bank. 

Dubbed "The Hard Corner 4," the military exercise included the armed wings of Gaza-run Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. 

During the manoeuvre, masked Palestinian fighters launched a few long-range rockets toward Gaza's sea while others showcased their abilities to control drones in the sky. 

Small reconnaissance aircraft were also seen hovering over the venue.

During a televised speech at the sidelines of the training, Commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades Mohammed al-Deif said, "The armed resistance is the only way for Palestinians to liberate their historical lands and declare their own independent State."

"We will force Israel to evacuate the West Bank and all the occupied Palestinian Territories," al-Dief said. 

"The manoeuvre came on the 30 anniversary of the Oslo agreement signed by the Palestinian Authority and Israel as well as the 18th anniversary of the Israeli evacuation from Gaza," Ayman Nofal, a commander of al-Qassam Brigades, said to The New Arab. 

"The manoeuvre came to tell the enemy that all wings of the Palestinian resistance are unified in the battleground," he added. "We will never let you (Israel) live in stability as long as you still occupy our lands."

The Palestinian armed groups in Gaza have faced five large-scale military wars and dozens of limited military tensions by Israel since 2008.