Hamas’ deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, has called on Israel to exit the Gaza strip if it believed it had dismantled the Palestinian movement in Rafah.

“We are a people on its land and a resistance (group) defending its land. If the occupation (Israel) announces it is achieving its goals, let it do so and let it say what it wants and the field can validate and falsify,” Reuters quotes him as telling Al Jazeera TV.

He added: “If Israel wants to convince itself that it is done, it should exit the strip,” in response to a question about the Israeli army’s remarks on dismantling Hamas during an interview with AJ on Monday.