(Daniel Siryoti/Israel Hayom/JNS) In a fiery speech that contradicted the reports of efforts to broker an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh declared that the “Palestinian resistance will continue in its efforts to crush the siege on Gaza.”

In an address delivered in Gaza City on the onset of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), Haniyeh said, “The criminal siege of the Zionist occupation of Gaza will end very soon, but Hamas will not make any political concessions to have it removed. The resistance will break the siege on Gaza. We will crush it and continue to fight without relinquishing the principles and weapons of the resistance.”

Israel imposed a maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip after the Islamist terrorist group seized control of the enclave in a military coup in 2007.

Israel maintains the measure is necessary to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and terrorists into Gaza.