Al-Qassam Website - Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri has said that the target of the operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" was freedom.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, al-Arouri said “This is not a (hit-and-run) operation; we started an all-out battle. We expect fighting to continue and the fighting front to expand. We have one prime target: our freedom and the freedom of our holy sites”.

The Hamas deputy chief added that the Palestinians have a right to freedom, to fight the Israeli occupation and to safeguard their holy sites.

Reiterating that his movement is ready for the worst-case scenario, al-Arouri said “We will continue to fight until we are rewarded with victory, freedom, and independence”.

“All scenarios are now possible and we are ready for an [Israeli] land invasion,” he added.

Al-Arouri also said that "Israel" had been planning to launch an attack on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.