Senior Hamas official Basem Naim has said the Palestinian resistance movement takes Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz’s threat to assassinate its political bureau chief, Khalil al-Hayya, seriously, despite viewing the remarks as part of Israel’s election-driven political rhetoric.

In statements posted on social media on Sunday, Naim said Hamas would not dismiss the threat, accusing Israel’s far-right political bloc of exploiting violence and death threats to gain votes ahead of upcoming elections.

“Israel’s far-right political bloc is competing for votes ahead of the elections by spreading death everywhere,” Naim said.

Responding defiantly to the threat, he added: “Are you threatening us with what we pray for day and night, martyrdom? Your efforts will fail.”

Naim reaffirmed that Hamas would continue along its chosen path until it achieved what he described as victory and liberation, portraying the Israeli threat as an attempt to intimidate the movement and undermine the Palestinian struggle.

Katz issued the assassination threat on Sunday against al-Hayya, also accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of rolling out a red carpet for Hamas.

The threat came two days after al-Hayya met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, where the meeting drew renewed attention to Türkiye’s contacts with Hamas amid ongoing regional efforts concerning the Palestinian issue.

Hamas has repeatedly rejected Israeli attempts to eliminate its leadership through threats and military operations, maintaining that such measures will not end Palestinian resistance or extinguish the Palestinian people’s aspirations for freedom and liberation. (ILKHA)