Ismail Haniyeh
Ismail HaniyehFlash 90

Hamas deputy leader Ismail Haniyeh has declared that his movement would continue to use “armed resistance” against Israel, reports the Ma’an news agency.

"Hamas negotiates with the enemy with arms, not talks," Haniyeh said during a press conference, held Thursday, in honor Palestinian Prisoner's Day and the death of Hamas co-founder Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi.

Al-Rantisi was killed by Israeli forces in 2004 along with his 27-year-old son, a body guard, and four bystanders in Gaza.

Hamas is committed to its principles and visions and prisoners will not be forgotten, Haniyeh added, according to Ma’an.

His remarks came after senior Hamas official Khalil al-Haya called for the abduction of Israelis, who would be used to release terrorists held by the Jewish state.

"We tell the Zionist enemy: you are all a target for us and the resistance, we will fight you until we finally get rid of you and take as many captives as possible to free our heroes," he said.

"Our men, our women, our children all envision kidnapping your soldiers and settlers, wherever they are," he added, "and it is our right because we have no other way to free our heroes, and it is the Zionist enemy responsible for this state of affairs."

 Haya said jailed terrorists should "rest assured" because terror groups led by Hamas's military wing Al-Qassam Brigades "will release you as they did your brothers" in 2011.

The year refers to when Israel released 1,027 Arab terrorists, many with blood on their hands, is in return for captive soldier Gilad Shalit. Many of those terrorists immediately returned to murdering Israelis.

(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)