Senior Hamas member says the militant group is ready for "worst-case scenario"
From CNN's Ibrahim Dahman and Abeer Salman


In this file image Saleh Al-Arouri makes a speech in Cairo, Egypt, on October 12, 2017.

Senior Hamas member Saleh al-Arouri said the militant group, which runs Gaza, is ready "for all options, including a war and an escalation on all levels."

"We are ready for the worst-case scenario, including a ground invasion, which will be the best for us to decide the ending of this battle," al-Arouri told Al Jazeera Arabic Saturday.
Al-Arouri claimed there are ongoing "intensive international and regional efforts" to end the crisis, "but now nothing will be more important than the battle."

Meanwhile, the Izzedine al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, on Saturday claimed they are still fighting in 25 locations.

The group also said in a statement that there are ongoing clashes at the Re'im military base near Gaza's northern border crossing with Israel.