Hezbollah says Hamas attack message for Arab nations seeking normalisation with Israel

Glorifying the Palestinian freedom movement Hamas's "heroic operation" against Israel that killed over 150 Israelis, Lebanon's Hezbollah Saturday said this attack was a message for Arab nations seeking to normalise ties with Israel.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah issued a statement on Saturday saying they were closely following the situation in Gaza and were in “direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance.”

The group also said the Hamas operation was "a message to the Arab and Muslim world and the entire international community, especially those seeking normalisation".

Is it meant for Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is determined to secure a military pact requiring the United States to defend the kingdom in return for opening ties with Israel and will not hold up a deal even if Israel does not offer major concessions to Palestinians in their bid for statehood, Reuters reported quoting sources. 

According to Reuters, agreements giving the world’s biggest oil exporter US protection in return for normalisation with Israel would reshape the Middle East by bringing together two longtime foes and binding Riyadh to Washington after China’s inroads in the region. 

For Biden, it would be a diplomatic victory to vaunt before the 2024 U.S. election.

The Palestinians could get some Israeli restrictions eased but such moves would fall short of their aspirations for a state. 

As with other Arab-Israeli deals forged over the decades, the Palestinian core demand for statehood would take a back seat, the three regional sources familiar with the talks said.

“The normalisation will be between Israel and Saudi Arabia. If the Palestinians oppose it the kingdom will continue in its path,” said one of the regional sources. “Saudi Arabia supports a peace plan for the Palestinians, but this time it wanted something for Saudi Arabia, not just for the Palestinians.”

Israel declares war

Israel said it was at war with Hamas following the surprise dawn attack from the blockaded Gaza Strip.

"Hezbollah congratulates the resisting Palestinian people," the Lebanese movement said in a statement, hailing Hamas and its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, for the "large-scale, heroic operation".

Hezbollah said its leadership was following the developments and "in direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance at home and abroad".

34-day war

In 2006 Hezbollah and Israel fought a 34-day war that left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers.

Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007 after Hamas took power.

Violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has surged since early last year.

In its statement, Hezbollah said the Hamas operation in Israel was a "response to the continued crimes of the occupation and the continued assault on holy sites."

The group also said the Hamas operation was "a message to the Arab and Muslim world and the entire international community, especially those seeking normalisation".