PIJ Leader: Resistance Ready to Negotiate, But Rejects Surrender
Ziyad al-Nakhalah affirms limited readiness for talks based on prisoner exchange, denounces Trump’s Gaza plan as “a declaration of surrender”
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Ziyad al-Nakhalah, affirmed that the Palestinian Resistance is willing to engage in negotiations on limited and conditional terms, emphasizing the importance of the prisoner-exchange clause as a priority.
“The Resistance is prepared to enter negotiations since there are clauses that can be dealt with positively,” al-Nakhalah said, naming the prisoner exchange as the foremost example.
Speaking in an address aired by Al Mayadeen Media Network on the second anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, al-Nakhalah underlined that the Palestinian Resistance is engaged in a fierce negotiating battle while simultaneously fighting on the battlefield.
“We are fighting the harshest battle and we will not surrender,” he declared, describing both military and diplomatic struggle as essential elements of steadfastness in the current phase.
Limited and Conditional Openness
Al-Nakhalah clarified that the Resistance’s willingness to negotiate remains conditional.
He said the movement “expressed readiness to negotiate on the basis that there are clauses that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner-exchange clause,” highlighting that prisoners remain both a humanitarian concern and a strategic bargaining point.
He reaffirmed the Resistance’s commitment to securing an exchange that meets the agreed-upon standards and maintains leverage in negotiations.
“Hamas and the Resistance factions insist that captives will only be freed under a committed, enforceable deal that ends the war,” he stressed.
Rejection of Trump’s Gaza Plan
Al-Nakhalah strongly rejected the Gaza plan introduced by former US President Donald Trump, saying it amounts to a declaration of the Palestinian people’s surrender to the Israeli enemy.
He warned that “Israel” and its allies cannot impose their will through political coercion after failing to achieve victory through war.
“If the enemy insists on achieving by negotiations what it could not achieve by war, then we must stand strong,” he stated.
“The enemy and its allies threaten us continuously with killing and destruction if we do not surrender… have they not done that already?” al-Nakhalah asked rhetorically.
“We Must Emerge With Our Heads Held High”
Addressing the Palestinian public and Resistance cadres, al-Nakhalah emphasized that Palestine stands at a strategic crossroads, yet the moral path remains clear.
“We must emerge from this battle with our heads held high,” he said.
He further affirmed that the Palestinian people “will not raise the banners of surrender over Gaza,” stressing that the struggle must continue in defense of dignity and legitimate rights.
“We are rightful owners [of our cause], and we must fight to reclaim our rights,” he asserted.
Two Years of Steadfast Resistance
On the anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, al-Nakhalah paid tribute to the enduring resilience of the Palestinian people and the steadfastness of the Resistance factions.
“For two years, the Palestinian people have remained patient and defiant and refused to surrender. For two years, the valiant Palestinian Resistance has not ceased to fight the enemy and to inflict losses in the field day after day,” he said.
He added that the Palestinian people remain steadfast and that the Resistance “is still active on the ground.”
Al-Nakhalah stated that the continued aggression has awakened global conscience in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, while “Israel continues to kill and destroy everything,” and the people “refuse to submit to the killers and criminal Zionists.”
Negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh
The ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh follow nearly two years of indirect diplomacy aimed at ending Israel’s war on Gaza and securing a lasting truce.
According to Hamas senior advisor Taher al-Nounou, the movement entered the talks with a “positive and responsible” approach, seeking to achieve progress toward an agreement that ensures the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces and a full ceasefire.
Al-Nounou confirmed that the latest round of talks involved the exchange of prisoner lists between both sides, with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States exerting “serious efforts to remove obstacles” to the truce’s implementation.
The negotiations are based on a 20-point peace framework proposed by Donald Trump, outlining a phased truce, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of prisoners and captives.
The US president described the talks as advancing at a “very rapid and highly successful pace,” confirming that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are leading the American delegation in Egypt.
Hamas, while engaging constructively, reaffirmed that any agreement must guarantee a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal, and the reconstruction of Gaza under Palestinian supervision.
The movement linked elements of Trump’s plan related to governance and sovereignty to broader national consensus discussions, reflecting the collective position of Palestinian Resistance factions that post-war arrangements must uphold Palestinian rights and self-determination. (PW)