18 November 2012 - 13:52

Representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement to Tehran Nasser Abusharif warned the Zionist regime about the consequences of any ground assault on Gaza, stressing that Palestinian groups will give a crippling response to any possible Israeli land invasion.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - "In case of a ground invasion of Gaza, we will paralyze every part of the occupied territories," Abusharif told FNA in Tehran on Sunday, stressing that the Zionist regime which is shocked by the Palestinian groups' retaliatory moves and is aware of its weaknesses is not willing to a stage ground attack on Gaza.

"The resistance's response was swift and heavy and the Israeli regime is now making its plans second by second and based on the (Palestinians') reactions," he said.

"Things might eventually lead to a massive ground attack (on Gaza), but the Zionist regime never wants such a thing since such an attack will incur a heavy price on the regime," he added.

His remarks came after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday threatened to launch another offensive on the Gaza Strip.

"If we need a ground operation, there will be a ground operation. We will do whatever necessary to stop the wave," Barak said.

After his comments, Hamas warned on Saturday that 50,000 Palestinian combatants and 5,000 martyrdom-seeking forces are ready in the Gaza Strip to confront any ground offensive by the Zionist regime.

"Over 50,000 Palestinian combatants are ready to confront any ground assault on Gaza," Representative of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas in Beirut Ali Baraka told the Arabic Al-Sharq al-Jadid news agency.

He further added 5,000 martyrdom-seeking Palestinian forces are ready as well to stand against any ground operation by Israel against the coastal enclave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu is the only one responsible for the new offensives on the Gaza Strip, he said, adding that Netanyahu is after targeting and undermining the Palestinian resistance in pursuit of his election campaign objectives.

Baraka warned that Netanyahu would pay a heavy price from now on, and added, "We will not be the only victim anymore."

Over 54 people have been killed and more than 550 others injured in the new wave of Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip.

Assaults on Gaza started on Wednesday when the Israeli military launched a series of new air and sea attacks against the Palestinians in the coastal territory.

The Israeli army also started drafting 16,000 reserve military forces for a possible ground offensive amid escalating deadly strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip.

End item/ 149