Senior member of Hamas’s armed wing gives details of Houthi coordination

A leader in the Qassam Brigades has spoken to Al Jazeera, detailing the close relationship the group has with Yemen’s Houthis, who have been carrying out attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea in sympathy with Palestinians in Gaza.

Here are some of his comments:

1. The Houthis informed the Qassam Brigades that the recent escalation in the Red Sea is due to the Israeli occupation’s intentions to attack Rafah and the continuation of the starvation policy.
2. The Houthis sent the Qassam Brigades a letter to ask for its opinion about negotiations to release the crew of a ship they are holding.
3. The Houthis confirmed that any decision regarding the detained ship and its crew exclusively rests with the Qassam Brigades.
4. The Houthis informed the Qassam Brigades that its strategic decision was to continue the battle of the Red Sea until the aggression stopped and the siege on the Gaza Strip was lifted.
5. Communication and coordination between the Qassam Brigades and the fighting fronts in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq has been continuing since the first hours of the start of the Al-Aqsa battle.
6. The United States tried directly and through mediators to stop the fighting on each front separately, but its attempts were rejected.
7. The decision of all fronts is not to stop fighting until the aggression on the Gaza Strip stops.