Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh has said that Israel cannot force its choices on Hamas and the group will accept no deal that does not achieve security for Palestinians, Reuters reports.

“Our people will not surrender and the resistance will continue to defend our rights in the face of this criminal enemy,” Haniyeh said in his statement.

“If the [Israeli] occupation believes that it can impose its choices on us by force, then it is delusional,” he added.