Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, issued a statement on Monday expressing its resolve to rebuild Gaza, which has suffered extensive destruction following more than 15 months of Israeli airstrikes. The group stated that Gaza's people would rise again to rebuild what Israel has destroyed and remain steadfast in their resistance against the occupation. Hamas emphasized the unwavering determination of Gaza's population to face aggression despite the continued violence.

The statement came on the second day of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant civilian casualties. In return, the ceasefire agreement saw the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, with approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners also freed from Israeli jails.

Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, reports that the Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of over 46,913 Palestinians, a figure deemed reliable by the United Nations. In contrast, the conflict began with the October 7 attack on Israel that left 1,210 people dead, mostly civilians.

This ceasefire agreement has brought a temporary halt to the fighting, but Hamas's rhetoric suggests they remain committed to continuing the struggle against what they describe as occupation, with the promise of rebuilding Gaza and reclaiming land that has been destroyed during the prolonged conflict.