Abu Yusuf, commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement headed by Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, on Thursday welcomed the remarks of Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub, who said the "occupation" is now considered an "enemy" and there will be no restrictions on the fight against it.
Speaking to the Hamas-affiliated Al-Risala website, Abu Yusuf said that the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades want to see these words translated into actions, including military resistance (i.e. terrorist attacks).
"The enemy understands only force and what is taken by force will not be returned through an olive tree branch," Abu Yusuf said.
He added that the Palestinian “resistance organizations” must act on all levels to thwart the Israeli aggression, and that Gaza must be ready to respond to the "annexation crime."
He further said that the “resistance organizations” had decided to escalate the ways of action against Israel and the response would be coordinated.
The comments followed a rare joint press conference between rival Palestinian Arab factions Fatah and Hamas, in which they pledged a united campaign against Israel's prospective plans to apply sovereignty in parts of Judea and Samaria.
"We will put in place all necessary measures to ensure national unity" in efforts against Israeli sovereignty, said Rajoub at the news conference, also addressed by Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri by video-link from Beirut.