Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh says Hamas was on the verge of a great victory

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday the Palestinian militant group was on the "verge of a great victory" after it launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.

"We are on the verge of a great victory and a clear conquest on the Gaza front," Haniyeh said in a speech broadcast on Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television.

"Enough is enough, the cycle of intifadas and revolutions in the battle to liberate our Palestinian land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed."

Haniyeh said Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is a direct response to the Israeli assaults on Al-Aqsa Mosque in recent days. Confirming that Hamas has concrete information that the Israeli government is planning to take over Al-Aqsa Mosque. He said Hamas will not stand and watch this desecration of the Islamic holy site.

He added "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood started in Gaza and will expand to the West Bank and Jerusalem”.

Haniyeh highlighted the number of Israelis captured by Hamas declaring the battler to free Palestine has now moved into the heart of Israel.