According to a report in the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the commander of the Hamas Gaza Brigade has sent an internal letter to field commanders and fighters, calling for a major "campaign to defend Gaza City" in the coming days and weeks. The report also suggests that other Palestinian factions have warned their fighters of severe punishment if they flee.
In the letter, commander Ezzedine al-Haddad reportedly promised to be the "first fighter" on the "front line" during the expected battle. He stressed the need to prepare for an "intense campaign that could last for months" and stated that all available military and material resources would be mobilized to inflict "heavy blows" on Israeli forces.
Hamas sources told the newspaper that a similar message was sent to the organization's northern brigade by its new commander, Mohammed Odeh. According to the sources, Odeh encouraged fighters in northern Gaza and displaced people in Gaza City to unite with their comrades and participate in military plans to fight Israeli forces. The report also noted that there is coordination with the military wings of Islamic Jihad and other organizations.
The Islamic Jihad leadership has reportedly issued its own internal directives, warning that "severe punitive measures" will be taken against any fighter who is assigned a military task in Gaza City but attempts to flee south.
According to Israel Realtime, a leaflet distributed across Gaza City carried this urgent message (translated): “To all residents and people present in Gaza City and all its neighborhoods, from the Old City and Tuffah in the east to the sea in the west, the IDF is determined to defeat Hamas and will operate in the Gaza City area with great force, as it has operated throughout the Gaza Strip. For your safety, evacuate immediately via the Al-Rashid corridor to the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi. Remaining in the area is very dangerous. Attached is a phone number to report blockages and attempts by Hamas to prevent evacuation – 0529625830.”
