Hamas: Any international forces in Gaza should not replace the occupation.

Hossam Badran, a member of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), stated that any international force that may be deployed in the Gaza Strip should have a mission strictly limited to monitoring the ceasefire and separating Palestinian civilians from the occupation forces.

Badran emphasized in an interview that turning these forces into a substitute for the occupation army or a tool to fight the Palestinians "is impractical and will complicate the situation further."

Badran mentioned that the Palestinian factions, including Fatah, presented a unified position in Cairo regarding international forces, confirming that the Palestinian stance is based on protecting civilians and stopping aggression, not legitimizing any new foreign military presence.

He pointed out that the agreement was reached "after the world grew weary of the occupation's behavior, including the supporting American administration."

The Hamas leader added that stopping the daily genocide in Gaza was a fundamental goal for Hamas despite ongoing violations.

Badran confirmed that the resistance acted with "political wisdom and realism" and that there was a national consensus and Arab and Islamic support for this path.

He also stated, "We are the rightful owners of the land, and the world must direct its compass towards the occupation, not the victim."

Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, under American sponsorship, with the first phase of the agreement coming into effect on October 10.

The Israeli genocide war on the Gaza Strip has resulted in more than 70,000 martyrs and about 171,000 injured Palestinians, most of whom are children and women, in addition to widespread destruction, with the United Nations estimating the cost of reconstruction at around 70 billion dollars.

Regarding the issue of the resistance fighters stranded outside the "yellow line" in Rafah, Badran revealed that Hamas engaged in arduous negotiations with mediators to reach a solution that preserves the lives of the fighters, but the occupation presented "impossible conditions and repeatedly backtracked."

He clarified that the demand for surrender and disarmament was raised during some rounds but was met with a firm rejection from Hamas, asserting that "the fighters in the field cannot accept this option."

Badran accused the Israeli army of trying to exploit the issue to obtain a "victory image" after two years of war, stating that the occupation was the one that started attacking and targeting the fighters in Rafah, confirming that they "represent Gaza and the dignity of the Palestinian people, no matter the sacrifices."

In the occupied West Bank, Badran stated that the Israeli occupation continues to implement a "systematic escalation" since the war on Gaza began, referring to the recent military operations in Tubas and northern West Bank, as well as previous incursions in Tulkarem, Jenin, and Nablus.

He said that what is happening reveals "the falsehood of the Israeli narrative that links its crimes to the events of October 7," explaining that the West Bank did not participate in the October 7 attack, but the occupation continues to kill, confiscate, and fragment the geography.

The Hamas leader indicated that the current phase requires a unified Palestinian stance, and that Hamas is in contact with various forces to find mechanisms to protect the residents from settler attacks and the occupation's forces.

Badran affirmed that the resistance "will continue to defend its people by all means" and that the Palestinians will pay prices, but in the end, "they will attain their rights no matter how long it takes."

The occupation forces withdrew from Tubas in the northern West Bank after a military operation that lasted 4 days, during which they raided Palestinian homes and destroyed their contents, resulting in injuries to more than 166 Palestinians.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club recorded about 200 cases of detention, most of whom were released earlier.

Regarding the relationship with the Palestinian Authority, Badran stated that there is no rupture, referring to meetings that took place in Cairo with Hussein al-Sheikh, the Deputy Head of the Palestinian Authority, and Majed Faraj, the head of the Palestinian intelligence, discussing national challenges and ways to confront them.

However, the Hamas leader added that the issues lie in the mechanisms of implementation and unifying the Palestinian stance.

Badran confirmed that the Authority and Fatah are an influential component, and that Hamas is keen to reach a minimum understanding in facing the occupation.

He stated that targeting Palestinians occurs at the level of geography and all components, not just Hamas, pointing out that Trump's plan and Security Council resolutions excluded the Authority from any role in Gaza, which confirms that the Israeli project aims to liquidate