Exclusive Interview With Dr. Harold Rhode: Understanding The Middle East Requires Knowing The Difference Between Shalom And Salam

I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Harold Rhode.

Dr. Harold Rhode has a Ph.D. in Islamic history and lived for years in the Muslim world. He served as an advisor on the Islamic world to the Department of Defense for 28 years.

Do all of the signatories to the Abraham Accords, Arabs and Israelis, see the Abraham Accords the same way?

We Jews want people to love us. And the peace we are looking for is that you will stop fighting, and we will stop fighting, and everyone will live together in peace. But the Muslims do not have a concept like that. They won’t stop until the whole world will be Muslim. They follow what their prophet Muhammad did. He signed a 10-year ceasefire with Quraysh. After 2 years, Muhammad realized Quraysh had weakened — so he attacked them, and won. There is a classic Latin phrase “Bellum omnium contra omnes, pace inter omnes interpellatur,” that war is the natural state of man, interrupted by periods of peace.

We do not look at life like that, but historically most people do. From a Muslim point of view, they can agree to have relations with their enemies — whether they be Muslims, Jews, or anybody else. They can make temporary agreements just like their prophet did. Those agreements can be renewed, renewed, and renewed. But to think that the Saudis see peace the way we Jews see it is a pipe dream.

In 1949, after Israel’s War of Independence, there was a peace conference in Rhodes. The Arabs insisted the borders be called “ceasefire lines” and not borders. The situation was not set in stone. Arabs do not have the concept that when the fighting is over, we can be friends. If we think we will have a peace agreement with the Saudis in the way we understand peace, we will be disappointed.

Does this mean the Abraham Accords are a pipe dream?

No, that does not mean the Abraham Accords are an illusion. We can have agreements with the Arab countries — as long as we have things they want from us, such as hi-tech, connections to the outside world, and alternate routes in place of the Suez Canal. They are interested in what is in it for them, not for the sake of friendship. Friendship is between people. Countries ally themselves because of common interests. The Abraham Accords are not about peace; they are about what is in both sides’ interest.

The Arab word “salam” has nothing to do with the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom comes from the root for “completeness.” The word “shalaim”, means to pay. When two people come to an agreement on a price, that payment completes the process.

In Arabic, the word “salam” is similar to the Hebrew word “shalom,” but they do not have the same meaning. “Islam” and “salam,” come from the same Arabic root. Islam means “submission,” while “salam” means something like the special sense of joy that someone has by submitting to Allah’s will through Islam. Shalom, on the other hand, means letting bygones be bygones, a concept that is totally alien to Islam. Clearly, “salam” and “shalom” do not mean the same thing.

The following example illustrates the Arabic meaning of the word in a Muslim context: If you take a look at the correspondence between Yemen and Saudi Arabia during the war in 1934, the leaders of the two sides wrote the most threatening things to each other — and then closed their letters with “salam alaikum”. These leaders hated each other, but they were fellow Muslims addressing each other. So if “salam” meant peace, how could they end their letters to each other with “salam alaikum?” How could they close their letters with “Peace be unto you”? Because the phrase has nothing to do with peace — it is about submission to Allah, which both of them, as fellow Muslims, are required to do.”

So, we are dealing with cultures that are so incredibly different from ours, from the Western culture, which is partially based on the Hebrew culture.

I am for the Abraham Accords, very strongly so. The Arab countries are interested because Israel is strong. The proof of that goes back to when contact between Israel and the UAE became serious. Netanyahu spoke before Congress against the Iran deal in 2015, in defiance of the US. He showed Israel was an independent country that could make its own decisions, and was willing to stand up to the US. That was when the Arab countries decided they could do business directly with Israel. It is why Saudi Arabia and Israel have had good relations for a long while and both have a strong dislike for Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood.

But wouldn’t you think that at some point the “experts” would catch on to the fact that the Arab world is different?

No, not at all. Few of these “experts” know the languages or haven’t taken the time to learn about and understand the cultures of the Muslim world. They think anyone who speaks English is a closet American. The White House ignored the Kurds, but when Iraq was liberated during The Gulf War, the White House greeted them as part of Iraq. A State Department senior official approached the Kurds and told them, “You have to stop thinking of yourselves as Kurds; you have to think of yourselves as Iraqis.”

The experts don’t read Bernard Lewis. They read Edward Said. His approach is that you can never understand another culture, so don’t waste your time trying to. Don’t learn the languages and don’t learn the culture. Bernard Lewis’ attitude was quite different. He said you had to immerse yourself in the culture and the language. You have to try to understand what they are doing and saying in terms of their culture. In modern parlance, what the experts are doing is the equivalent of telling a person not to think of themselves as a man or a woman, but rather as a human.

I recall the reaction of a very senior leader when war broke out in Syria in 2011. I suggested this was nothing more than the return of the ancient Shiite-Sunni conflict. His response was, “Well, we can’t have that!” I said to myself it didn’t matter if we could or could not have it. The fact is that they see it this way. The reality is the reality, and if you choose to ignore it, you do so at your own peril.

Let’s talk about October 7. On the one hand, Israel’s weakness was revealed by the Hamas attack. On the other hand, Israel has entered Gaza and taken the battle to Hamas to a degree few could have predicted.

Hamas misread the Jews.

But how do the Saudis and the rest of the Gulf states read this? Do they see this as a sign of Israeli weakness or do they see Israel’s reaction as a sign of Israel’s strength?

They understand strength very well and Israel has come back very strongly. That part of the world has immense patience — the Jews don’t, but everyone else there does. They know how to wait. Let the Saudis put off signing the agreement. I don’t really care if there is a formal agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, because their relationship is so strong. The relationship is between governments, because these Arab countries rule from the top, down, unlike in a democracy, where leaders are elected by the people and must take into account the will of the people they lead.

Israelis seem to have a Westernized view of the Middle East. You would think they would have a keener insight and understanding of their Arab neighbors.

Superficially, Israel is a Westernized country. But when you scratch the surface, you see how the Israelis have reacted to the issue of judicial reforms, which the Arabs saw as a weakness — it is another reason why Hamas decided to pounce now — but Israel has created a younger generation, who are going to have a huge say after this, a revolution against the politics, military, intelligence, and the media: “We put our lives on the line — not for you, but for the Jewish people.” That is what they are saying. We will see where all this leads. It is only going to be healthy.

AUTHOR

Daled Amos

EDITORS NOTE: This Elder of Ziyon column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

The war in Gaza has already had a terrible effect on Jordan’s economy. Since the war started, visitors have been cancelling trips to the country, out of worries about spillover violence, not just from the fighting in Gaza, but also the possibility of a major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border, and from the upsurge in violence in Judea and Samaria (a/k/a the West Bank. By dint of repetition, beginning immediately in 1950 with all the Arab and Muslim delegates using “the West Bank” speeches at the UN, the rest of the world quickly chose to forget the venerable toponyms that had been in constant use for 3000 years, not just by the Jews, but by the entire Western world. Take a look at any American, British, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Russian maps of the area up to 1950, and you will see “Judea” and “Samaria” clearly marked. And nowhere will you find “West Bank.” But here we are, in 2023, and practically everyone now uses, without giving it a thought, “West Bank” for “Judea and Samaria.”)

No one likes to visit what is a war zone, and the result has been a body blow to the tourism sector in Jordan. The country is losing about $250 million each month in revenue from tourism. More on this loss to Jordan’s economy can be found here: “Jordan Losing Over $250 Million Per Month Due to Israel-Hamas War,” Algemeiner, December 27, 2023:

The Israel-Hamas war is having devastating effects on the Jordanian economy, according to the kingdom’s Minister of Tourism Makram Mustafa Queisi.

Queisi said on Tuesday that the rate of tourist cancellation since the beginning of the war in October is around 60 percent, which translates to over 200,000 visitors, according to Al-Arab, a pan-Arab newspaper published in London.

Can you blame those tourists cancelling trips to Jordan? It’s not just the violence in Gaza, though that would by itself be enough to dissuade many tourists, but that exchange of fire across Israel’s northern border between the Jewish state and Hezbollah in Lebanon. And there is also the continuing threat of Houthi drones being fired at ships in the Red Sea, with the Americans successfully shooting down most of those drones, and just now creating a naval task force, consisting of ships from major maritime nations, under American leadership, able to answer the Houthi threat — taking the fight if necessary to Yemen itself — in order to make the Red Sea safe again for commercial shipping. All of these stories that dominate the news, about Israel and Hamas fighting in Gaza, Hezbollah and Israel trading blows across the Lebanese-Israeli border, the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah attacking American bases in Syria and Iraq, quite understandably lead hundreds of thousands of tourists to cancel trips to Jordan. And there is another worry that puts would-be tourists off. Given that the majority of the population in Jordan is Palestinian, and angry at the Americans for continuing to stand by their Israeli ally, attacks on American tourists in Jordan are another source of justified concern.

If we want to reflect this number on income, we are talking approximately 180 to 200 million dinars [$253 to $281 million] per month,” which represents “a loss to the overall economy,” Queisi said.

“There will be significant losses to the economy, which means that every month there will be cancellations in hotel reservations and a decrease in the number of visitors by up to 60 or 70 percent,” he said.

The violence in the region will not soon die down. The Israelis have already said that they expect their campaign to destroy Hamas as a military threat will take “months,” and so the reluctance of visitors to come to Jordan will last at least as long.

In recent years, Jordan and Israel have considered cooperating on multiple joint economic and tourism initiatives including the Jordan Gateway Industrial Park, the construction of solar-power and desalination facilities in Israel, and joint tourism in the Gulf of Eilat-Aqaba….

All of those plans about “joint tourism initiatives” promoted by both Israel and Jordan, where package tours would include both countries’ offerings, and allow Jordan, whose main tourist attractions are the rose-red city of Petra, built by the Nabataeans, and Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, to benefit from the attractiveness of Israel as a world destination for both religious (Jewish, Christian, and Muslim) and cultural tourists. Now, as long as the Gaza war lasts, all talk about joint Israeli-Jordanian tourism initiatives has stopped cold.

AUTHOR

HUGH FITZGERALD

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EDITORS NOTE: This Jihad Watch column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Palestinian Authority | Special Dispatch No. 11049

This is a compilation of announcements, statements, and interviews by Hamas leaders and officials, from the day of the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel to this day.

They include the Hamas military commander Mohammed  Deif”s October 7 announcement of the Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge, on Qatar’s Al-Jazeera TV, and interviews and statements by Hamas officials, from leaders Ismail Haniya and Khaled Mashal who live in Qatar; senior official Osama Hamdan, who lives in Lebanon; Hamas political bureau deputy chairman Saleh Al-Arouri and members Moussa Abu Marzouk, Fathi Hamad, and Ghazi Hamad and Ali Baraka; the spokesman of Hamas’s military wing Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida; Hamas representative in Lebanon Ahmad Abd Al-Hadi and Hamas head in Sidon, Lebanon Ayman Shanaa; Hamas official Hisham Qasem; Hamas MP Marwan Abu Ras; the head of Hamas political department abroad Sami Abu Zuhri, and Talal Nassar, Hamas official based in Turkey.

These officials were speaking on television networks from across the Middle East: Qatar’s Al-Jazeera, Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV in Gaza, Hizbullah’s Al-Manar TV in Lebanon, Turkey’s TRT, Egypt’s Sada Elbalad TV, Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen, affiliated with the Iran-led resistance axis, and more.

All these clips are from the MEMRI TV project. They have had 80 million views to date, from all over the world. Since October 7, the MEMRI TV team has been working around the clock, monitoring, recording, translating, adding subtitles, and publishing these videos – over 250 of them since that day. It is exhaustive and painstaking work – and no one else is doing the work that MEMRI does.

Mohammed Deif – Hamas Military Commander

Hamas Military Commander Mohammed Deif Announces Launch Of Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge, Calls On Palestinians In West Bank, Jerusalem, And Israel Proper To Attacks With Guns, Knives, Vehicles

October 7, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10500

On October 7, 2023, after the surprise invasion of Israel by Gaza militants, the Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired an audio recording of Hamas military commander Mohammed  Deif’s announcement of the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge. Deif said that the invasion of Israel – in which so far over 600 Israelis have been killed, over 2,000 wounded, and at least 100 known to have been kidnapped and taken to Gaza – was the “first strike” of the operation. He called upon Palestinians in the West Bank, in Jerusalem, and inside Israel itself to carry out attacks against Israelis using guns, knives, Molotov cocktails, and vehicles. Stating that the security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel was over, he called on West Bank residents to attack Israeli settlements, and ‘sweep out the occupiers and their settlements from all our land in the West Bank.” The people of Jerusalem, he said, should “expel the occupation forces and the settlers” from Jerusalem. He went on to exhort the Arabs in Israel to “torch the earth under the feet of the plundering occupiers – kill, burn, destroy, shut down roads.”

Mohammed Deif: “In light of the continuous crimes against our people, and in light of the occupation’s rampage, and its disregard for international laws and resolutions, and in light of the American and Western support [of Israel] and the international silence, we have decided to put an end to all of this, with the help of Allah, so that the enemy understands that the time that it could go on a rampage without being held accountable is over.

“We declare the beginning of Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge. We also declare that, with the help of Allah, the first strike of Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge, which targeted the enemy’s posts, airports, and military fortifications, included over 5,000 shells and rockets in the first 20 minutes.

“I say to the masses of the people and our nation, and to the free people of the world: Today, the wrath of Al-Aqsa has exploded – the rage of our people, our nation, and the free people of the world. I say to our pure mujahideen: This is the day that you make this criminal enemy understand that its time is up. [The Quran says:] ‘Kill them wherever you may find them.”

 […]

“I say to our young people in the West Bank, from the various organizations: Today is your day to sweep out the occupiers and their settlements from all our land in the West Bank, and to make them pay the price for their crimes, over the lean years. Organize your attacks on the settlements, with all the means at your disposal.

“Today, the military coordination [between Israel and the Palestinian Authority] is over. [The Palestinian Authority’s security forces] should prove that their patriotism and affiliation with the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, and Palestine are greater than all the illusions of the occupation.

“Today, our people regain their revolution, rectify their path, and return to the plan of liberation, the return [of the refugees], and the establishment of a [Palestinian] state, through blood and martyrdom. I say to our people in Jerusalem: Arise for the support of your Al-Aqsa Mosque. Expel the occupation forces and the settlers from your Jerusalem, and destroy the walls of separation. I say to our people in occupied [pre-1967 Israel] – in the Negev, the Galilee, the Triangle, Haifa, Jaffa, Acre, Lod, and Ramla: Torch the earth under the feet of the plundering occupiers – kill, burn, destroy, and shut down roads. Make the cowardly occupiers understand that the Al-Aqsa Deluge is bigger than they think.

“The day has come when anyone who has a gun should take it out. Now is the time. If you do not have a gun, take up your cleaver, axe, Molotov cocktail, truck, tractor, or car.”

Ismail Haniya – Hamas Chief

Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh: We Need The Blood Of Women, Children, And The Elderly Of Gaza – So It Awakens Our Revolutionary Spirit

October 26, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10572

Hamas leader Isma’il Haniyeh called in an October 26, 2023 address upon all the “free people of the world“ to stop the bombing of Gaza, which he referred to as the “new holocaust.“ He said: “The blood of the women, children and elderly […] we are the ones who need this blood, so it awakens within us the revolutionary spirit, so it awakens with us resolve.“ He said that the demise of the Israeli occupation is “inevitable,“ and therefore, preparations must be made for the post-occupation phase. The address was aired on Mayadeen Network (Lebanon), and other TV networks.

Ismail Haniyeh: “I call upon all the intellectuals and strategic experts to discuss the post-occupation phase, because its demise is inevitable. This occupier will not be able to recover, because of the strategic blow and resounding defeat that befell it.

[…]

“I call on everybody – all the free people of the world, all the friendly countries, all the brotherly [Arab] countries, and all the allies – to exert all the necessary pressure, in all directions and in all forums, in order to end the aggression against Gaza, to stop this war against our children, women, and elderly, our mosques, our universi- ties, and our homes. This brutal aggression must stop. This new holocaust must stop.

[…]

“I have said this before, and I say it time again. The blood of the women, children, and elderly… I am not saying that this blood is calling for your [help]. We are the ones who need this blood, so it awakens within us the revolutionary spirit, so it awakens within us resolve, so it awakens within us the spirit of challenge, and [pushes us] to move forward.”

Al-Jazeera Airs Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh’s Statement On Hamas’s Invasion Of Southern Israel: I Call On Palestinians In The West Bank, Israeli Arabs, And The Entire Nation Abroad To Join The Battle; To The Enemy I Say: Get Out Of Our Land!

October 7, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10501

Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s October 7, 2023 statement on Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge, in which he called the operation a “great triumph” and said that that the enemy had suffered a political, military, intelligence, security, and moral defeat. He stated that the operation had begun in Gaza and would spread to the West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel within the pre-1967 borders, and to the resistance and Palestinian people abroad. This, he said, was not only a Palestinian battle but that of the entire nation, and went on to call on the sons of the nation to join the battle. Stressing that “We are on the verge of victory,” he concluded: “Get out of our Jerusalem and our Al-Aqsa Mosque… This land is ours, Jerusalem is ours, everything is ours.”

Ismail Haniyeh: “I say to the sons of our Palestinian people and Arab and Islamic nation: Today, you are on the verge of a great triumph and a manifest victory.

[…]

“What happened today reveals the fragility of this enemy. This enemy suffered a de- feat today – a political, military, intelligence, security, and moral defeat. Inshallah, we will crown all this with a resounding defeat, and [the enemy] will leave our land, our Jerusalem, our Al-Aqsa Mosque, and we will liberate our prisoners.

[…]

“The Jerusalem [sic] Deluge started in Gaza, and it will spread to the West Bank, to Jerusalem, and to our people inside [pre-1967 Israel], as well as to the resistance and our Palestinian people abroad. This is not the battle of the Palestinian people alone, or Gaza alone. Gaza is the pillar of the resistance, but since the battle has to do with the land of Palestine, Jerusalem, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, it is the battle of the entire nation. Therefore, I call upon the sons of this entire nation, in their various locations, to join this battle any way they can.

[…]

“Our goal is clear: We want to liberate our land, our holy places, our Al-Aqsa Mosque, and our prisoners. This is the goal that is worthy of this battle.

[…]

“This is a call to our resistance, to our West Bank, to our people, to our resistance abroad, to our strategic allies, to all the sons of this nation: Today is your day. We are on the verge of victory. Let us be partners in creating this great victory, inshallah.

“In conclusion, we say to the enemy that is making threats and going on rampage: Your threats, rampage, and arrogance did not and will not help you. We say one thing: Get out of our land, get out of our faces. Get out of our Jerusalem and our Al-Aqsa Mosque. We do not want to see you on this land. This land is ours, Jerusalem is ours, everything is ours.”

In Video, Ismail Haniyeh And Other Hamas Leaders Watch Al-Jazeera Coverage Of Hamas’s Invasion Of Southern Israel, Perform A “Prostration Of Gratitude”

October 7, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10507

On October 7, 2023 a video of Hamas leaders including Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh watching the coverage of Hamas‘s invasion of southern Israel on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) was posted on various social media outlets. According to online reports, the video was taken in Qatar. Haniyeh and the other leaders performed the “Prostration of Gratitude.“ Hamas members killed more than 800 hundred Israelis, injured thousands, and captured dozens during the invasion, most of whom were civilians, including children and elderly men and women.

Ismail Haniyeh: “Let us prostrate. These images were… See the guys with a new jeep. Look. Look. The Israeli jeep… Let’s do it. This is a prostration of gratitude for this victory. Allah, please bestow your support and glory on our people and nation. Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Allah be praised.”

Khaled Mashal – Hamas Leader Abroad

Hamas Leader Abroad Khaled Mashal On Turkish TV: October 7 Paved The Highway Towards Removing Israel; Russia And China Can Do More To Help Us, This Is Their Opportunity To Abolish American Monopoly 

October 31, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10597

Hamas leader abroad Khaled Mashal said in an October 31, 2023 interview on TRT Network (Turkey) that Hamas’s October 7, 2023 invasion of southern Israel paved a “huge highway” towards the removal of Israel. He said that the Muslims need more Islamic scholars like Palestinian Salafi Jihadi scholar Sheikh Abdallah Azzam, who was Osama Bin Laden’s mentor. He also said: “We have friends among the Christians, even among the Jews, as well as the global left.” He elaborated that while Russia and China have good positions,  they can do more for the Palestinians, and this is their opportunity to change the current U.S.-dominated unipolar world order.

Khaled Mashal: “October 7 paved a wide highway towards the removal of Israel, to- wards liberation, and towards saving Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

 […]

“We want to see a cluster of Islamic scholars who will change the rules of the game, just like Abdallah Azzam did in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Did he ask for permission? No, he did not wait for anyone. He took it upon himself and the people followed him.

“Today, the Islamic scholars should issue a fatwa, incite the Islamic nation, take action, and exert pressure on the regimes and rulers to stop the massacre, send aid, and open the Rafah border crossing.

[…]

“We have friends among the Christians, even among the Jews, as well as the global left. We have friends in the world. I am also addressing Moscow and Beijing, Russia and China. Their political position is good. Their [veto] in the U.N., their political position… But these are superpowers. They can do more. They should build the determination… Enough, the [American] monopoly… This is an opportunity. Moscow and Beijing are striving for an international balance of power that will abolish [American] unipolarity. Well, this is your opportunity!”

Hamas Leader Abroad Khaled Mashal: The Russians Told Us That Our October 7 Operation Will Be Taught In Military Academies; The Chinese Are Thinking Of Carrying Out A Similar Attack In Taiwan

October 26, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10578

Hamas leader abroad Khaled Mashal discussed the international impact of the October 7 attack on an October 26, 2023 show on Sada Elbalad TV (Egypt). He said that the Russians have benefited from the October 7 attack because it has been keeping the U.S. distracted from the war in Ukraine. Mashal continued to claim that the Russians have said that the attack would be taught in military academies. He further said that the Chinese are considering carrying out such an attack against Taiwan. In another part of the show, Mashal stated he hopes Hizbullah will fully join the war, and he added that it will make a “real difference.” He stated that Hamas is demanding this from its friends.

Khaled Mashal: “There is no doubt that if Hizbullah joins in, it would make a real dif- ference. We hope that this happens, but the decision is theirs. Since the beginning of the Zionist aggression and this genocidal war, they have kept the enemy busy in the northern Palestinian front. They are clashing with the enemy and the battles are constantly escalating, but they have yet to evolve into a complete engagement and an all-out war, which would split the enemy and force it to fight on two or more fronts. We are still demanding [this] from Hizbullah and from our friends and nation.

[…]

“We want the Arab communities in the West to be active, and [we want] cooperation with superpowers like China and Russia. For your information, Russia has benefitted from our [attack], because we distracted the U.S. from them and from Ukraine. China saw [our attack] as a dazzling example. The Russians told us that what happened on October 7 would be taught in military academies. The Chinese are thinking of carrying out a plan in Taiwan, doing what the Al- Qassam Brigades did on October 7. The Arabs are giving the world a master class.”

Hamas Leader Abroad Khaled Mashal Rejects Accusations Of Transgressions Against Civilians On October 7 Attack: We Have Nothing To Apologize For; Hamas Only Fights Soldiers, But Sometimes There Are Civilian Victims In War; Hizbullah, Arab Countries Should Do More To Help Us

October 19, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10547

In an October 19, 2023 interview on Al-Arabiya Network (Saudi Arabia) about the October 7 attack on southern Israel, Khaled Mash’al said that the attack was kept under wraps in order to surprise the enemy and all the intelligence agencies in the world and that it was carried out “in the context of legitimate resistance.“ In light of the atrocities perpetrated against Israeli civilians, Al- Arabiya‘s Rasha Nabil asked Mashal if treating civilians this way is part of Hamas‘s ideology and if he will apologize for the events of October 7. Mashal responded that Hamas only focuses on fighting soldiers, any accusations of misdeeds are “fabrications“ by Netanyahu, and that in any war there are some civilian victims, but Hamas is not responsible for them. He said that while the clashes in southern Lebanon are a good thing, “greater things are needed.“

Also in the interview, Mashal called on Hizbullah, Egypt, and other Arab countries to join in the fighting against Israel. When asked by Rasha Nabil about the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, Mashal responded that they are not hostages but prisoners. He said that Israel released over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, and now Hamas holds dozens of Israeli soldiers and officers as prisoners, so all the thousands of prisoners held by Israel, from every faction, will be released.

Rasha Nabil: “That ingenious moment when the Al-Qassam Brigades managed to surprise the enemy and all the intelligence agencies in the world had to be kept [a se- cret] known only to a small group of people. We did not embark on a new [enterprise of ] resistance. It is all part of the atmosphere of resistance. When a certain measure is taken, it is in the context of the legitimate resistance that our people have agreed upon…”

Nabil: “Okay, you have made some important points. You say that this is legitimate resistance in your view, but what the people in the West have seen on their TV screens, was transgressions by Hamas against Israeli civilians. You are responsible for Hamas’s image abroad. Hamas is now being compared to ISIS.”

Mashal: “This is an accusation fabricated by Netanyahu, and unfortunately, the West is collaborating with this.

[…]

“Dear sister, nations are not easily liberated. The Russians sacrificed 30 million people in World War II, in order to liberate it from Hitler’s attack. The Vietnamese sacrificed 3.5 million people until they defeated the Americans. Afghanistan sacrificed millions of martyrs to defeat the USSR and then the US. The Algerian people sacrificed six million martyrs over 130 years. The Palestinian people are just like any other nation. No nation is liberated without sacrifices.”

[…]

Nabil: “How can you demand that the West, and the world in general, support the Palestinian cause, when the things Hamas perpetrated against the Israeli civilians are in the headlines? You know that Israel gained a lot of sympathy because of these scenes. Is treating civilians this way part of Hamas’s ideology?”

Mashal: ‘Sister, I told you that Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, and our military organi- zations focus their resistance on the occupation forces, on the soldiers, but in all wars, there are some civilian victims. We are not responsible for them.”

[…]

Nabil: “Will you apologize for what was done to the Israeli civilians on October 7?”

Mashal: “With all due respect, your question… Forgive me for saying this… Apologies should be demanded from Israel. You asked me a question and I am answering it with clarity. Hamas does not kill civilians on purpose. It focuses on the soldiers. Period.”

[…]

Nabil: “You said that what Hizbullah is doing is good, but it is not rising to the required level. Can we understand from this that Hizbullah and the resistance axis have so far failed your expectations regarding their reactions?”

Mashal: “We, in Palestine, are fighting. This is our position and decision. Outside of Palestine – we are grateful to whoever is standing by us. Hizbullah… The Lebanese front is now on fire, and we are grateful for that – whether it is done by Lebanese, by Palestinians, or by anyone. Hizbullah has an active role there. Those clashes in South Lebanon are good, and support our cause, but the scope of the battle… When the title is Al-Aqsa Flood, and when such a heinous crime is perpetrated against Gaza –greater things are needed, certainly. But we should not single out Lebanon and Hizbullah. Let us talk about the countries bordering with Israel. The great Egypt that has waged large wars… Today, the Egyptians are boiling [with anger]… We salute the Egyptian people, and we want more. I demand a more powerful position by the Egyptian leaders…”

Nabil: “What do you mean by ‘more’? With regard to Lebanon, you know this and you can see it on the social media – the situation of the people in Lebanon is very bad. The last thing they need is another war that will come with another bill to pay. They say: Khaled Mashal is sitting in an air-conditioned room, talking about war, Jihad, and bombings.”

Mashal: “We are in the middle of the battlefield. Nobody is sitting this one out.  The  Hamas  leaders  in  Gaza  and  abroad  are  running  this  war  together.”

[…]

Nabil: “You decided to launch the October 7 attack, and now you are asking the Arab [countries] to join in. The Arabs did not participate in making this decision.”

[…]

Mashal: “Nobody in the Arab world said to Egypt: Why did you surprise us with the 1973 war? This is because Egyptian land in Sinai was under occupation. People might object to an Arab country deciding all by itself to launch an offensive against a neighbor or another party. But when people are under occupation, they have a natural right to do so. Nobody has the right to ask us why we did this, and whether or not we consulted with anyone.”

[…]

Nabil: “Has Iran lived up to your expectations so far? Iran has been speaking about the destruction of Israel.”

[…]

Mashal: “Our job is to make requests and remind people [of their promises], and every one is responsible for their own decision.”

[…]

Nabil: “What do you plan to do about the hostages? What do you want in exchange?”

Mashal: “As I’ve said, these are prisoners. Before talking about the prisoners held by us, there are prisoners held by the enemy. There were about 5,500 of them, and now they number 10,000. Every day, Israel arrests 100, 200, or 1,000 from the West Bank. The rule we follow is that prisoners are swapped for prisoners. We took over 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit. Today, we have in our hands dozens of soldiers and officers. Inshallah, we will use them to empty the [Israeli] prisons, and all our sons and daughters from all the factions will be released, inshallah.”

Hamas Leader Abroad Khaled Mashal Calls For “Friday Of The Al-Aqsa Flood”: Muslims Should Take To The Streets Worldwide, Join The Battle; The West, America, Zionists Will See Convoys Of Mujahideen On Their Way To Palestine

October 10, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10516

In an October 10, 2023 show on Al-Mahriah TV (Yemen), former Hamas Political Bureau chairman Khaled Mashal called on Muslims worldwide to join the battle in Israel on an October 10, 2023 show on Al-Mahriah TV (Yemen). He said that when the world, America, the West, and the Zionists see the convoys of the mujahideen on their way to Palestine, the battlefield will change. He called on Muslims worldwide to take to the streets and city squares on this coming Friday, which he said would be called “the Al-Aqsa Deluge Friday.“

Khaled Mashal: “We should take to the streets and the city squares in Arab and Islamic cities, as well as in cities everywhere where there are [Islamic] communities. There is a call [for demonstrations] this Friday – the Al-Aqsa Deluge Friday.

[…]

“From these city squares, send a message of rage that we stand with Palestine, Gaza, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jerusalem, and that we are part of this battle. That is the first thing.

“Secondly, Gaza is calling for your help – aid, money, whatever you have. Anyone who can make a donation – [know] that this is the moment of truth. This is Jihad with money, and it is like the jihad they wage, sacrificing their lives. Donate for Gaza, its resistance, and its heroes.

[…]

“This is the moment that the [Islamic] nation must join the battle. We should fight with them.

[…]

“First of all, I address the countries neighboring [Israel] – Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. I appeal to all of the people, the men and women there – both on the official and popular level. Your duty is greater than that of others because you are the closest to Palestine.

[…]

“I appeal to the tribes of Jordan, the people of Jordan, my brothers and sisters in Jordan, from all directions, from everywhere: This is the moment of truth, the border is close to you. You know what your duty is. This applies to all the nations.

[…]

“By Allah, when the world, America, the West, and the Zionists see that the nation has come to the support of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and that convoys of mujahideen are on their way to shed their pure blood on the land of Palestine, the battlefield will change, the balance of power will change.”

Osama Hamdan – Hamas Political Bureau Member

Hamas Official Osama Hamdan: Macron Should Send Back The Skulls OfAlgerians Kept In French Museums Before Talking About Human Rights; Abu Marzouk Was Misquoted – Hamas Will Never Recognize Israel

December 14, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10726

Osama Hamdan of the Hamas political bureau demanded in a December 14 address aired on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) that French President Emanuel Macron send back the skulls of Algerian “martyrs“ held in French museums before he talks about freedom or human rights. He said that Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouq was misquoted saying that Hamas would consider recognizing Israel. Hamdan stated that Hamas will never recognize the legitimacy of the “Zionist entity“ on any part of the land. He added: “This entity is temporary, and it will be destroyed.“

Osama Hamdan: “The President of France, who speaks about freedom and human rights, should first send back the skulls of Algerian martyrs. These skulls are still kept in the museums of France. I cannot believe that someone in this day and age, keeps the skulls of the martyrs in museums, and then speaks about human rights.

“[Hamas official] Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk clarified in a statement that what had been attributed to him in an interview [with Al-Monitor] was inaccurate and not true.

“I would like to stress in no uncertain terms, that the position of Hamas was, and still is, not to recognize the legitimacy of the Zionist entity on any part of our land. This is an occupied land. The enemy is an occupier. Regardless of how long the occupation lasts, the violence of the occupation, its military machine, or its terrorism, it will never become legal or legitimate. According to international law, the Zionist entity is an occupying entity, despite the pressure of the U.S. and its allies to impose its existence.

“I am saying so everybody hears: This entity is temporary, and it will be destroyed, Allah willing. Perhaps the people who built it know this more than others. Therefore, whoever wants to build a strategy in this region should do this based on the assumption that this entity will be destroyed. People who think that striking an alliance with this entity could create some opportunities are deluding themselves, and perhaps if this entity falls, it will take with it those who are deluding themselves that it has any future in our region.”

Senior Hamas Official Osama Hamdan: I Promise That A War Of Liberation Is Coming Soon – Not Just Another October 7

November 29, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10688

Osama Hamdan of the Hamas Political Bureau promised in a November 29, 2023 show on Bel Moubashar Online (Lebanon) that a “war of liberation is coming,“ not just another October 7, and that he doesn‘t think that it would be far off. When asked by the interviewer if he has any regrets over the October 7 attacks, he replied: “Regret for shattering an entire division of the occupation army?“

Interviewer: “If you could go back in time to October 6, would you still do what you did on October 7?”

Osama Hamdan: “Why would some people assume that we would go back on our acts of resistance?”

Interviewer: ‘so you have no regrets?”

Hamdan: “Regret for shattering an entire division of the occupation army?”

Interviewer: “You said that if the Israelis would make new arrests, after all the prisoners are released from [Israeli] prisons, you would carry out another operation. So can you promise another October 7?”

Hamdan: “I can promise that a war of liberation is coming, not just another October 7.”

Interviewer: “In the foreseeable future?”

Hamdan: “I do not think it is far off.”

Hamas Official Osama Hamdan: Israel Is A Threat To Humanity, A Neo-Nazi, Sadistic, Racist Entity; I Call On All The Free People Of The World To Increase Their Activity In Solidarity With Palestinians

November 12, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10634

Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas‘s Political Bureau, said at a November 12, 2023 press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, that was aired on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar), that Israel is a racist, sadistic, and neo-Nazi entity, that constitutes state-sponsored terrorism and is a threat to humanity. He called on the “free people of the world“ and Muslims worldwide to increase their activity in solidarity with the Palestinians and Gaza and against “genocidal war.“ Hamdan added that confronting “this Nazi entity“ is an international and humanitarian mission. He also said that U.S. President Joe Biden and his “Jewish Secretary of State“ Antony Blinken are responsible for this crime that is being carried out by means of American planes and missiles.

Osama Hamdan: “We hold the American administration, along with its President Biden, and especially its Jewish Secretary of State responsible for this crime that is being carried out by means of American planes and missiles, with the full support of the U.S. and under its political cover.

[…]

“Today, the world knows the true essence of this plundering entity, the so-called ‘Israel’. It is an entity of neo-Nazis that is a paragon of crimes against humanity. They constitute state-sponsored terrorism. They are sadistic racists, soaked in the blood of innocent women and children. This entity is the real threat to humanity and to international peace and security in the region and in the world. Confronting this Nazi entity is an international and humanitarian mission.

“We salute and thank the Arab and Muslim people, and the free people who took to the streets in London, Washington, Madrid, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Oman and Algeria, as well as all the people who took to the streets in the capital cities of the world in order to express their rejection of the occupation, its crimes and its aggression, and in order to demand freedom for Palestine and the Palestinians, who have a right to self-determination, just like all other people on earth.

“The activity of the angry masses on all the continents of the world is a very important matter that has a large impact in pressuring the decision-makers in the world, as well as pressuring the leaders that are complicit in the massacre of the century, leaders that gave the murderous criminal Stinkiyahu [Netanyahu] a green light to commit massacres and wage a genocidal war.

“Today, the people of the world stand with our people. They stand with truth. They reject and condemn the occupation, that represents evil, falsehood, terrorism, and neo-Nazism, that tries – through minorities that are associated with it – to pressure leaders for the sake of that entity.

“They will not succeed. Today, people are more aware of the scope of the crimes being committed. We call upon these free people to increase their activity and their solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinians, in defense of the values of freedom and justice, and against the occupation and the genocidal war that is currently being waged against our people. This is humanitarian responsibility and mission, that every free people can take pride in.

“Oh, people of the world, the sons of the Islamic nation, and the free people of the world: Keep your activity on the ground. Your voice is louder than their tyranny, missiles, and terrorism.”

Hamas Official Osama Hamdan To Al-Jazeera TV After Gaza Hospital Blast: The Holocaust Perpetrated In Gaza Puts Hitler’s Holocaust, Which Israelis Whine About, To Shame

October 17, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10541

Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired a telephone interview with Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas‘s Political Bureau, on October 17, 2023, in which he responded to the blast near a Gaza hospital, which Hamas said was carried out by Israeli airstrikes and claimed that 500 lives were lost in it. Hamdan said that this would be a “mark of shame“ on U.S. President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He added that Blinken has forgotten he is the Secretary of State and only thinks of himself as a Jew. Hamdan added that Blinken was a party to the Israeli war cabinet, “which decided on a series of crimes that we are witnessing.“ He said: “They whine about Hitler‘s Holocaust, which is put to shame by the holocaust they are perpetrating themselves.“ It should be noted that according to the Israel Defense Forces spokesman, the blast near a Gaza hospital was a result of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket misfire from a nearby cemetery, and the evidence has been accepted by Western governments as well.

Hamdan: “I believe that this crime will go down as a mark of shame on Biden and on Blinken, who forgot that he is the Secretary of State, and only remembers that he is a Jew. He joined yesterday the meeting of the [Israeli] war cabinet, which decides on a series of crimes that we are witnessing now. They whine about Hitler’s Holocaust, which is put to shame by the holocaust they are perpetrating themselves.”

Hamas Official Osama Hamdan: We Are Ready To Repeat The Attack In The West Bank

October 14, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10535

On October 14, 2023 a show on Mayadeen TV, which is affiliated with the Iran led “resistance axis,” featured Abbas Zaki of the Fatah Central Committee and Osama Hamdan of Hamas’s Political Bureau discussing the October 7 invasion of Israel and its implications. Zaki praised the October 7 invasion, saying that “there has been a Palestinian revival.” Zaki continued to say that the time has come for a united front that is capable of defeating the Americans, “who use the Israelis as a proxy to accomplish their goals.” He warned that if Israeli PM Netanyahu begins to crush Gaza, “then the skulls of all the Jews and Americans in the region will be crushed.” Zaki said that he is friends with Osama Hamdan and that they understand each other.

To this, Osama Hamdan replied that Hamas is prepared to repeat the same “ruse” it employed in Gaza “hand in hand” with Zaki in the West Bank. Elsewhere on the show, Hamdan said that the Israeli captives in Gaza are not hostages, they are prisoners of war, and that the issue of these POWs will be discussed after the “aggression” is over, not under fire. He continued to say that 90% of the ‘settlers” in the Gaza Envelope do not want to return to settler there. Hamdan added that the settlers in the West Bank fear that what happened in the Gaza Envelope will happen there too, and he added: “inshallah, in the near future it will indeed happen in the West bank.”

Abbas Zaki: “After October 7, there has been a Palestinian revival. We thank the Izz Al- Din Al-Qassam Brigades for making these preparations. Once they set out, they know how to finish the job, without relinquishing our goals – stopping the fighting, lifting the siege, swapping prisoners, as well as a complete [Israeli] withdrawal from the West Bank, and the establishment of a [Palestinian] state.”

[…]

Osama Hamdan: “At first, in all the contacts about the prisoners swap, the American term ‘hostages’ was used. We rejected using this term. There are no hostages. There are POWs. We know the rules of treating POWs. We have experience with POWS, and the world has seen how we treated those POWs. The issue of POWS will be discussed after the aggression is over. It will be not discussed under fire, as the [Hamas] leadership of the Al-Qassam Brigades has stressed. As for the other issues, we have made ourselves clear. Everything will be concluded when the aggression is over.”

[…]

Zaki: :The time has come for a united front that is capable of defeating the Americans, who use the Israelis as a proxy to accomplish their goals. We are certain that the future is ours. Mr. Netanyahu said today [sic]: ‘[The Hasmoneans] survived 80 years, I want to make sure we survive 100.’ Well, if he begins to crush Gaza, the skulls of all the Jews and Americans in the region will be crushed.”

[…]

Hamdan: “Today, the results of a survey were published, according to which 90% of the settlers in the Gaza Envelope decided not to return there, regardless of the [Israeli] military operation. I believe that this is one of the most important achievements of this attack. I will even go so far as saying that the settlers in the West Bank do not find it enticing to settle there, because what happened in Gaza may happen – Inshallah, in the near future it will indeed happen – in the West Bank.”

Zaki: “I am pleased with Osama Hamdan. We are friends. We understand each other. Victory has been promised to us. The ruse by Hamas, how it prepared [for the attack], and how it accomplished this victory – I believe that people will emulate this. It may happen [in the West Bank]. If they want to slaughter the entire Palestinian people, they will be the ones slaughtered.”

Hamdan: “We are prepared to repeat this ruse and this attack in the West Bank, hand in hand with you.”

Zaki: “Please God…”

Hamas Political Bureau Member Osama Hamdan: We Oppose Just One Thing – The Existence Of Israel; We Are Willing To Help The Israelis Go Back To Where They Came From

October 11, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10533

Hamas political bureau member Osama Hamdan said in an October 11, 2023 show on Al-Jadeed TV (Lebanon), that Israel is the heart of the problem in the region. He explained that once it is removed, all the other problems will be resolved. Hamdan said that Hamas does not have to throw Israel into the sea, rather, the Israelis can return to the countries from where they came. He added: “We will help them go there safely.“

Osama Hamdan: “Hamas has just one ‘no’ – no to the existence of Israel. I believe that Israel is the heart of the problem in our region, and that once Israel is gone from this region, an opportunity to resolve all the problems in this region will be opened.”

Interviewer: “But you know full well that is it not possible now to throw Israel into the sea.”

Hamdan: “I am not talking about throwing Israel into the sea. In the past few days, the Israelis wrote in their media: ‘What is the point in having a country when all its citizens have passports of the countries they have come from?’ Let them return to where they came from. We don’t want to throw anyone into the sea. Let them return to where they came from. We will help them go there safely.”

Moussa Abu Marzouk – Hamas Political Bureau Member

Hamas Official Moussa Abu Marzouk Calls On Israeli Arabs To Join Fighting Despite Fears Of Losing Citizenship: “Cowardice Will Not Protect Them From Humiliation”; Doubling Down On His Controversial Statement: We Cannot Fit 2.5 Million Gazans In Our Tunnels

November 6, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10613

Moussa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas’s Political Bureau, said in a November 6 interview with BBC Arabic (U.K.) that Israeli Arabs and Palestinians in the West Bank must join the fight against the occupation. When the interviewer replied that Israeli Arabs fear their citizenship would be revoked, he replied: “Their cowardice will not protect them from the humiliation that will be their lot.” Abu Marzouk reiterated recent statements, according to which the tunnels in Gaza were built to protect Hamas fighters, not civilians, saying that the tunnels enable Hamas to fight the “occupiers,” and it is not possible to bring all the residents of Gaza into the tunnels. He also claimed that it was Israeli forces who killed most of the Israeli civilians who died on October 7, not Hamas. He continued to say that Hamas does not have a complete list of all the Israeli hostages, because they are being held by different factions and in different places. See MEMRI TV clip number 10585 for more information.

Moussa Abu Marzouk: “Most of the [Israeli] civilians who were killed [on October 7] were killed by Israeli forces. The best evidence of that is the houses in which they were killed. Those houses were destroyed by shells from tanks and planes, and not by the AK-47s our people had.

[…]

“Those [Israeli] Arabs must not remain isolated. They should join their people in fighting the occupiers. They should do whatever they can to fight those occupiers.”

Interviewer: “Inside Israel?”

Abu Marzouk: “Yes. Inside Israel, in the West Bank, and everywhere.”

Interviewer: “We spoke with many of their representatives, and they are fearful that any act of the kind you suggest would lead to their citizenship being revoked…”

Abu Marzouk: “Their cowardice will not protect them from humiliation that will be their lot.

[…]

“So far we have not even managed to make a list of all [the hostages]. The truth is that we do not need [the foreign nationals] among them. We want to release them but they should at least stop shooting.”

Interviewer: “Does that mean they are held by different factions or in different places? Why can’t you [make a list]?”

Abu Marzouk: “Both are true. They are held by different factions. Some are held by the Qassam brigades. They are held in various places. So both things are true.

[…]

“We have built those tunnels, and now it became clear why. Thanks to those tunnels, we are fighting the occupiers and we will defeat them.

[…]

“Do you want me to get two million people [into the tunnels]? There is no agriculture in Gaza, there are no streets, and you expect me to fit 2.5 million people in the tunnels? If [Israel] discovers the tunnels, it has bombs capable of destroying them.”

Hamas Official Mousa Abu Marzouk: The Tunnels In Gaza Were Built To Protect Hamas Fighters, Not Civilians; Protecting Gaza Civilians Is The Responsibility Of The U.N. And Israel

 October 27, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10585

Mousa Abu Marzouk, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau said in an October 27, 2023 interview that aired on Russia Today TV that the tunnels in Gaza were built to protect Hamas fighters from airstrikes, not civilians. He added that Hamas fights Israel from within the tunnels. Abu Marzouq added that since 75% of the residents in the Gaza Strip are refugees, it is the responsibility of the United Nations to protect them. He added that according to the Geneva Conventions, it is the responsibility of the “occupation“ to provide civilians in Gaza “will all the services,“ as long as they are under occupation.

Interviewer: “Many people are asking: Since you have built 500 kilometers of tunnels, why haven’t you built bomb shelters, where civilians can hide during bombardment?”

Mousa Abu Marzouk: “We have built the tunnels because we have no other way of protecting ourselves from being targeted and killed. These tunnels are meant to protect us from the airplanes. We are fighting from inside the tunnels. Everybody knows that 75% of the people in the Gaza Strip are refugees, and it is the responsibility of the United Nations to protect them. According to the Geneva Convention, it is the responsibility of the occupation to provide them with all the services as long as they are under occupation.”

Fathi Hamad – Hamas Political Bureau Member And Former Interior Minister

Hamas Official Fathi Hammad: Palestinians Are Preparing To Establish An Islamic Caliphate With Jerusalem As Its Capital; West Bank Security Forces Should Rise Up Against The Traitor Mahmoud Abbas

December 1, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10696

Hamas Political Bureau member and former Minister of the Interior Fathi Hammad said on a December 1, 2023 show on Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas – Gaza) that the Palestinians are pre- paring to establish an Islamic caliphate, with Jerusalem as its capital city. He said that the Palestinians cannot ask where the Arabs are, while some of them continue to take orders from the “traitor“ Mahmud Abbas. Hammad called on Abbas to relinquish his control over the Palestinian Authority security forces and ‘side with his people.“ Addressing the PA security forces, he asked whether they are “real men“ who care about their people. Hammad called on the people in the Arab countries for help, singling out Jordan, which has a 400 km border with Israel. He said: “You must rise up, just as the Palestinians rose up.

Fathi Hammad: “The [Palestinian] people have been soldiers throughout history. They are now preparing to liberate Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and I am saying this loud and clear: [The Palestinian people] are preparing to establish the Caliphate, with Jerusalem as its capital city, Inshallah. Jerusalem will not only be the capital city of Palestine as an independent state – it will be the capital city of the Islamic Caliphate.

[…]

“This requires the following: First, the Palestinian people must unite under the banner of ‘There is no god but Allah’. The pathetic president, [Mahmoud] Abbas, must not have a monopoly over a part of the Palestinian people, and have a hold on the weapons in the West Bank, where 70,000 AK-47s are pointed at our Palestinian people.

[…]

“We – as Palestinians – must rise up, and get rid of these elements of treachery and collaboration. With whom does [the Palestinian Authority] collaborate? With the Jews and Christians who are killing your people. This must not be allowed. We must rise up. Palestinian unity is required quickly.

“As Palestinians, we must not ask: ‘Where are the millions of Arabs and Muslims?’ while some of the Palestinians are still taking orders from that traitor, Abbas. Therefore, I am saying loud and clear: Abbas the traitor must side with his people, and he must relinquish his control of the [PA] security forces.

“As for the members of the [PA] security forces – what are you waiting for? I am not even talking in terms of being Muslims, but in terms of being noble. Are you not noble? Are you not real men?

[…]

“The second [thing that is required] is Arab unity. Where are the millions of Arabs? Where? Are you not noble? Where is your support? What about the people of Jordan? Four mil- lions of you have Palestinian roots. Jordan’s border with the West Bank is 400-kilometer long. Where are you? Why are you still fettered with chains of humiliation, shame and disgrace? You have to muster your power. What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for Gaza to be totally annihilated?

[…]

‘Some people say that we must be grateful to the Arabs and Muslims. Grateful for what? I do not want to thank the Arabs and Muslims. It is time for your to rise up and march forward for the sake of Allah. You deserve no thanks. You have no excuses. You must rise up, just as the Palestinians rose up with their children, women, and elderly, with everything that they have sacrificed and are still sacrificing – for the sake of Allah.

“The Zionists enemy is negotiating with us under fire, whereas you are still living with disgrace. The Zionists enemy is negotiating with us with fire, with our body parts and our blood, whereas you are still living happily with your disgrace.”

Saleh Al-Arouri – Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Chairman

Hamas Senior Official Saleh Al-Arouri: The People In Gaza Support Us, Otherwise They Would Be Angry With Hamas; No More Prisoner Swap Deals Before Final And Complete Ceasefire; The U.S. Is More Nazi And Fascist Than The Zionist Entity Deputy Chairman Of Hamas’s

December 2, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10692

Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, said in a December 2, 2023 interview on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) that the population in Gaza completely supports the resistance. He said that if this were not the case, people would not be able to bear the sacrifices and you would hear people who are angry with Hamas. Al-Arouri said that America is “morally bankrupt“ regarding its policy on Palestine and that it is more Nazi and fascist than “the Zionist entity itself.“ Regarding the hostage situation in Gaza, Al-Arouri said that there will be no more prisoner swaps until the war is over and then the “Zionist prisoners“ will be released only when all the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are released.

Saleh Al-Arouri: “The official and final position of the Hamas movement and the re- sistance is that there will be no more prisoner swaps before the end of the aggression, and before there is a final and complete ceasefire.

[…]

“We have said, since day one, that those Zionist prisoners would be exchanged for all the prisoners of the Palestinian people held by the occupation, and we are still saying this. Let everybody know that the Zionist prisoners will not be released, unless all of our prisoners are released, and only after there is a ceasefire.

[…]

“America is morally bankrupt regarding anything related to the conflict in Palestine. It has become more Nazi and fascist than the Zionist entity itself.

[…]

“The resistance is ready for all possible scenarios – whether [Israel] conducts war in air or land, or goes into each and every street and alley. The resistance is ready and is empowered by the support of the population. The entire population supports the resistance.

“If there was a rift between the resistance and the people, our people would have been unable to bear all these sacrifices, and you would hear people who are angry with the resistance, (but) they believe in the message of the resistance, and believe that this message is sacred and serious. Therefore, we are saying to our people and to the world: ‘You do not need to worry about the resistance.’”

Political Bureau Saleh Al-Arouri: Hamas Did Not Target Civilians; Ordinary People From Gaza Tagged Along And Kidnapped Israeli Civilians

October 12, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10526

Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired an audio recording of Deputy-Chairman of Hamas‘s Political Bureau Saleh Al-Arouri on October 12, 2023, in which he stated that Hamas does not target civilians. He elaborated that any civilians that were killed in Israeli kibbutzim and settlements, were killed during clashes between Al-Qassam Brigades and Israeli guards, soldiers, and armed civilians. Al-Arouri added that Hamas‘s Al-Qassam Brigades only captured soldiers, but ordinary residents of Gaza tagged along with Hamas, and they were the ones who captured civilians and brought them back to Gaza.

Al-Arouri: “When the [Israeli] Gaza Division collapsed so quickly and unexpectedly, and people in Gaza realized that the borders were open, and that the army [guarding] the Gaza Envelope collapsed, civilians from Gaza, young men, and armed men entered [Israel] and some unplanned chaos developed in the clashes. Therefore, people [from Gaza] entered the kibbutzim and settlements. Then, some of the guards, soldiers, and settlers there clashed with the men of the Al-Qassam Brigades, inside those kibbutzim and settlements and this led to civilian casualties.

[…]

“The truth is that our mujahideen do not target civilians. It is inconceivable that they would perpetrate the kind of crimes mentioned by the occupation, like rape, killing children, or killing civilians. The [Israeli] army collapsed and did not fulfill its duty of defending itself and defending the civilians. The civilians found themselves in the middle of the clashes, in an open area, where many armed men [from Gaza] arrived, so there were many civilian casualties.

“We are not saying that no civilians were killed, but it was 100% not part of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ plan to harm or kill civilians. It was not part of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ plan. The men of the Al-Qassam Brigades captured soldiers and took them to Gaza. There are civilians who were captured, because ordinary people [from Gaza] tagged along, grabbed people and took them back to Gaza.”

Saleh Al-Arouri, Deputy Chairman Of Hamas Political Bureau: We Are Ready For All Options, Ground Invasion By The Enemy Would Be The Best Scenario – the Storming Of The Gaza Envelope Will Pale Compared To What May Happen To Them

October 7, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10515

On October 7, 2023, Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired an audio recording in which Hamas Political Bureau deputy chairman Saleh Al-Arouri warned that an Israeli ground invasion into the Gaza Strip would be the “best scenario“ as far as Hamas is concerned. He said that a ground invasion would “put an end to this conflict and defeat the enemy,“ and that in such a case, “the storming of the Zionist settlements and bases in the Gaza Envelope will pale compared to what may happen to them.“ He said that the invasion of southern Israel – in which over 1000 Israelis were murdered and over 100 were kidnapped – was carried out according to the plan that had been “drawn up.“ Al-Arouri added: “Taking control of those settlements and bases with their people was part of the plan.“ Moreover, he claimed that Hamas did not harm civilians and that videos of the attacks show that the people were treated in a “humane way.“

Saleh Al-Arouri:  “All the possibilities are taken into consideration. The resistance is basing its positions and plans on the worst-case scenarios, including an [Israeli] ground invasion. Let me use this platform to tell our people that for us, the possibility of a ground invasion into Gaza by the enemy is the best scenario to end this conflict and defeat the enemy. The storming of the Zionist settlements and bases in the Gaza Envelope by the resistance fighters and mujahideen will pale compared to what may happen to them, if they send ground forces in Gaza.”

[…]

Interviewer: “Was this scenario of capturing several hostages part of your plans?”

Al-Arouri: “The plan was carried out the way it was drawn up. Taking control of those settlements and bases with their people was part of the plan. We do not target civilians. We do not kill or harm them. You may have watched videos where you could see that the people who surrendered to the resistance were treated humanely.”

Ghazi Hamad – Hamas Political Bureau Member

Hamas Official Ghazi Hamad: We Welcome Canada, Australia, New Zealand Support For Ceasefire In Gaza; This Is The Right Step Towards Global Isolation Of The Fascist Israeli Government

December 18, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10747

Ghazi Hamad of the Hamas political bureau issued an English-language statement which was uploaded to the Palestine Infor Center account on X (formerly Twitter) on December 18, 2023 in which he condemned American and British “blatant support,” for the Israeli military operation in Gaza. He welcomed the support of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for a “sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza. Hamad said that Hamas considered this a step in the right direction towards global isolation of the “fascist” Israeli government and ending the occupation.

Ghazi Hamad: “Ladies and gentlemen, for 73 days the fascist Israeli occupation has been conducting its genocide war against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. All this and more is taking place before the eyes of the whole world, with the blatant support of the U.S., U.K., and some European countries, in light of the dysfunctional international community and United Nations institutions to stop this aggression due to the arrogance of the American administration and its brazen use of veto.

“Despite the United States’ position, the Hamas movement is watching the growing calls by several Western governments to end the aggression on Gaza, in addition to the other calls, worldwide, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the last of which was a statement by Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, backing a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza. We welcome these developments and consider them [a step] in the right direction toward isolation of the fascist Israeli government globally, and ending the longest ever occupation in our modern time.”‘

Hamas Official Ghazi Hamad: U.N. Sec-Gen António Guterres Clearly Stated Why Palestinians Were Forced To Carry Out The October 7 Attack

October 25, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10574

Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas‘s Political Bureau appeared on two Lebanese TV channels on October 25, 2023, and spoke about the October 7 attacks and his organization‘s policies. On a show on Al-Jadeed TV, he was asked why Hamas is firing rockets at Israel from southern Lebanon, which is in the jurisdiction of Hizbullah and the Lebanese government. Hamad replied that this question is out of place, “because everyone should fight against the [Israeli] occupation.“ He added that Israel is a “cancer“ that poses a danger to Lebanon and  all the Arab region.

In an interview with Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah – Lebanon), he explained the reasoning behind the October 7 attack, saying that U.N. António Guterres “clearly stated“ the reasons that forced the Palestinians to “take this measure.“ He said that October 7 was a military operation directed at the soldiers and military bases around the Gaza Strip, and it was intended for military gains. Hamad continued to say that Hamas wanted to send a message to the Arab countries that were going to establish relations with Israel that Israel cannot protect them from Iran, because it cannot even protect its own citizens. In addition, Hamad said, the attack was carried out in order to raise awareness for the Palestinian cause, adding that the people of the world must realize that “the reason for all the evil and all the crimes in the region is the occupation.“

Host: “Why is Hamas firing rockets from Southern Lebanon?”

Ghazi Hamad: “This is a weird question.”

Host: “Why?”

Hamad: “I believe that the responsibility for confronting the enemy should be…”

Host: “Why? Hamas is in Gaza, and Hizbullah is in Lebanon.”

Hamad: “I am not talking about Hamas. ”

Host: “I mean the Lebanese government and Hizbullah are in Lebanon, and Hamas is in Gaza.”

Hamad: “The responsibility for confronting the occupation and liberating Palestine falls on Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and all the Arab countries. This is their duty.”

Host: ‘so are you saying that Hamas has a right to fire its rockets from Lebanon?”

Hamad: “What I am saying is that it is the Arab patriotic duty of every Arab to stand by the Palestinians. Just as we stood by Lebanon, by our brothers in Iraq, and by every Arab… I believe that this is a basic issue.”

[…]

Host: “So Hamas is going to continue firing rockets from Lebanon?”

Hamad: “Israel poses a danger to Lebanon, for Syria, and for the entire Arab region. Therefore, I believe that it is a sign of bravery, manhood, heroism, and Arab patriotism to fight against the occupation. We salute every one who is fighting against the occupation.

[…]

“First of all, the [October 7] attack was purely a military operation. It was directed at the soldiers and military bases around the Gaza Strip. It was not directed against civilians – as some say – and it was not good for any other purpose. The aim was to enter deep into [Israeli] territory, take control of the military regions, kidnap soldiers, and break the reputation of the Israeli military and security structure which boasted that no one can get to it, defeat it, and gain control over it.

“Within six minutes – not six hours, six minutes – we were able to break through the electronic barrier, as well as the early warning and surveillance systems in their entirety, despite the tanks, the weapons, and the soldiers who were armed to their teeth. A small number of fighters gained control of all this in six minutes. This caused a great shock for the occupation.

[…]

“Second, the issue of normalization [of relations between Arab countries and Israel]… We sent a very strong message to the countries that were going to establish relations with the occupation for the sake of economic benefit or so [Israel] would protect them from Iran or form any other danger… I believe that this concept was resoundingly shattered. Israel cannot protect you. It cannot even protect its own citizens.

“Third – and this is very important – the Palestinian cause is back on the table. Today, the entire world is on its feet. The U.S., Europe… Of course in a negative way, but the Palestinian cause is back on the table. The world needs to realize that the Palestinian people exist, they are suffering from occupation, and the reason for all the evil and all the crimes in the region is the occupation. I believe that this is

“Today, the entire world, the Arab countries, the Arab summit… The UN Security Council… All the countries in the world, from Japan to South Africa, are seeking liberation. They began to see that the source of the problem in this conflict is the occupation. And indeed, yesterday [U.N. Sec.-Gen.] Guterres clearly stated why the Palestinians were forced to take this measure.”

Hamas Official Ghazi Hamad: We Will Repeat The October 7 Attack, Time And Again, Until Israel Is Annihilated; We Are Victims – Everything We Do Is Justified

October 24, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10592

Ghazi Hamad of the Hamas political bureau said in an October 24, 2023 show on LBC TV (Lebanon) that Hamas is prepared to repeat the October 7 “Al-Aqsa Flood“ Operation time and again until Israel is annihilated. He added that Palestinians are willing to pay the price and that they are “proud to sacrifice martyrs.“ Hamad said that Palestinians are the victims of the occupation, therefore no one should blame them for the events of October 7 or any- thing else, adding: “Everything we do is justified.“

Ghazi Hamad: “Israel is a country that has no place on our land. We must remove that country, because it constitutes a security, military, and political catastrophe to the Arab and Islamic nation, and must be finished. We are not ashamed to say this, with full force.”

[…]

“We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do this again and again. The Al-Aqsa Flood is just the first time, and there will be a second, a third, a fourth, because we have the determination, the resolve, and the capabilities to fight. Will we have to pay a price? Yes, and we are ready to pay it. We are called a nation of martyrs, and we are proud to sacrifice martyrs.

[…]

“We did not want to harm civilians, but there were complications on the ground, and there was a party in the area, with [civilian] population… It was a large area, across 40 kilometers…

[…]

“The occupation must come to an end.”

News anchor: “Occupation where? In the Gaza Strip?”

Hamad: “No, I am talking about all the Palestinian lands.”

News anchor: “Does that mean the annihilation of Israel?”

Hamad: “Yes, of course.

[…]

“The existence of Israel is illogical. The existence of Israel is what causes all that pain, blood, and tears. It is Israel, not us. We are the victims of the occupation. Period. Therefore, nobody should blame us for the things we do. On October 7, October 10, October 1,000,000 – everything we do is justified.”

Hamas Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades Spokesman Abu Ubaida

Hamas Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades Spokesman Abu Ubaida On Al-Jazeera: ‘We Will Execute An Enemy Civilian Hostage For Every Attack Without Warning Against Our Peaceful People – And We Will Air Footage Of The Execution’

October 9, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10508

In an audio recording aired on October 9, 2023 on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar), the spokesman of Hamas‘s Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades military wing Abu Ubaida said that every time Israel carries out a strike against “our peaceful people“ without prior warning, Hamas will execute an enemy civilian hostage and air the footage of the execution. He said that  Islam prescribes the protection of the lives of hostages and prisoners, but the Zionists are carrying out “crimes against our peaceful people“ and this is the only language the “enemy“ understands. It should be noted that in the October 7, 2023, during the Hamas invasion of southern Israel, Hamas kidnapped an estimated 150 prisoners, many of whom are civilian women, children, and elderly people.

Abu Ubaida: “This is an important announcement and a warning by the Al-Qassam Brigades. In the Martyr Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, we believe in the religious, military, and human values, which were expressed by our Chief of Staff (Mohammed Deif) in the speech that launched the Al-Aqsa Deluge [Flood] battle. We believe in the commandments of our religion, instructing us to protect the lives of hostages and prisoners. However, the Zionist crimes against our peaceful people, and the destruction of civilians’ homes with their inhabitants inside, and the collective killing of women, children, and the elderly in their homes…

“Since our enemy does not understand the language of moral values and humanity, we will address it in the language it understands all too well.

“In the last few hours, we have felt pain, witnessing what happened to many families throughout the Gaza Strip – the fascist, Zionist, barbaric crime of bombing homes with their inhabitants inside. Therefore, we have decided to put an end to this.

“We declare that, from now on, any attack against our people in their homes, with no advance warning, will be met, sadly, will be met by the execution of one of the enemy’s civilian hostages held by us.

“In addition, we will be forced to air footage [of the execution]. By announcing this decision, we let the whole world know that we lay the responsibility for this decision on the Zionist enemy and their leaders. The ball is in their court from now on. This warning absolves us of any responsibility.”

Ali Baraka – Senior Hamas Official

Senior Hamas Official Ali Baraka On Reports Of Kim Jong Un’s Support For Hamas: Unlike Iran, North Korea Is Capable Of Striking The U.S.; One Day, Russia, China, And All America’s Enemies May Join The War And Turn The U.S. Into A Thing Of The Past

November 2, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10604

Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka said in an interview posted on Spot Shot (Lebanon) on YouTube on November 2, 2023 that all of America‘s enemies are growing closer and the day may come when they join the war and turn America into a thing of the past. He said that the only country that is capable of striking America directly is North Korea, and he stated that the DPKR is part of Hamas‘s alliance. Baraka continued to say that Iran can only strike “the Zionist entity“ or American bases and ships in the region. He continued to share that China and Russia maintain close ties with Hamas.

Ali Baraka: “The United States was established by Britain and global Freemasonry, and it will collapse, like the USSR did. America will not remain powerful.”

[…]

Interviewer: “The Wall Street Journal wrote that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un asked to support the Palestinian people, and Hamas in particular. Are you taking this seriously?”

Baraka: “Yes. As you know, the leader of North Korea is, perhaps, the only one in the world capable of striking the United States. He is the only one. Iran does not have the capability to strike America. If Iran decides to intervene, it can strike the Zionist entity and the American bases in the region. Let us say things as they are.

“Iran does not have weapons that can reach America, but it can strike Israel and the American bases and ships in the region, if the U.S. clearly expands its intervention. North Korea, however, does have the capability to strike America. The day may come, when North Korea intervenes, because it is, after all, part of [our] alliance.

“Today, all of America’s enemies – or all those shown enmity by the U.S. – are growing closer. Today, Russia contacts us on a daily basis. The Chinese sent envoys to Doha, and China and Russia met with the leaders of Hamas. A Hamas delegation traveled to Moscow, and soon, a delegation will travel to Beijing.

“All of America’s enemies in the region are consulting and getting closer, and the day may come when they join the way together, and turn America into a thing of the past.”

Senior Hamas Official Ali Baraka: We Have Been Secretly Planning The Invasion For Two Years; Russia Sympathizes With Us, Benefits From U.S. Embroilment In This War; Any Swap Deal Should Include Hamas Prisoners In Europe And The U.S

October 11, 202 – Special Dispatch No. 10850

Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka said in an October 8, 2023 interview that aired on Russia Today TV that Hamas had been secretly planning the invasion of southern Israel for two  years, even as it was making it seem like it was busy governing the Gaza Strip. He explained that this is the reason Hamas did not join the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in its previous round of fighting against Israel. He said that Hamas notified its allies in other Palestinian factions, in Hizbullah, in Iran, in Turkey, and in Russia only after the invasion started, and he stated  that any prisoner exchange deal should involve Hamas prisoners held in the United States. Later in the interview, Baraka said that Hamas has a license from Russia to locally produce bullets for Kalashnikovs, that Russia sympathizes with Hamas, and that it is pleased with the war because it is easing American pressure on it with regard to the war in Ukraine.

“We Made Them Think Hamas Was Busy With Governing Gaza, And That It Wanted To Focus On The 2.5 Million Palestinians [In Gaza]… All The While, Under The Table, Hamas Was Preparing For This Big Attack”

Ali Baraka: “The zero hour was kept completely secret. A limited number of Hamas leaders knew it. The number of people who knew about the attack and its timing could be counted on one hand.

[…]

“In the past couple of years, Hamas has adopted a ‘rational’ approach. It did not go into any war, and did not join the Islamic Jihad in its recent battle.”

[…]

Interviewer: “But all this was part of Hamas’s strategy in preparing for this attack.”

Baraka: “Of course. We made them think that Hamas was busy with governing Gaza, and that it wanted to focus on the 2.5 million Palestinians [in Gaza], and has abandoned the resistance altogether.

“All the while, under the table, Hamas was preparing for this big attack.

[…]

“The rockets of the resistance cover all of Palestine. Where would [Netanyahu] take [the Israelis who were attacked]? To Tel Aviv? We bombed Tel Aviv on the very first day of the attack. Does he want to take them to the Galilee? The northern front – with Lebanon – has opened today. The Galilee is no longer safe for the Zionist enemy. We can bomb the Galilee from inside occupied Palestine.

[…]

“We Demand That The U.S. Free Our Sons From Prisons”

Interviewer: “There are also Palestinian prisoners outside of Israel, in European countries.”

Baraka: “There are also prisoners in the U.S. We want them. Of course. There are Hamas members sentenced for life in the U.S. We want them too. Of course. We demand that the U.S. free our sons from prisons. The U.S. conducts prisoner swaps. Only recently, it did one with Iran. Why wouldn’t it conduct a prisoner swap with us? After all, it is participating in this war. Biden, the highest authority in the U.S., declared that he stands with Israel against Hamas and the Palestinian people. Therefore, he is a partner to this aggression, he must pay the price.

[…]

“In order to keep the attack secret and successful, the different factions and our allies did not know the zero hour. But after half an hour, all the Palestinian resistance factions were contacted as were our allies in Hizbullah and Iran. The Turks were also notified, and a meeting was held with them three hours later, at 9 am. We updated anyone who contacted us. Even the Russians sent a message and enquired, and they were updated about the situation and about the goals of the war.”

[…]

Iran Is Giving Us Weapons And Money; Hizbullah Stands By Us; Russia Sympathizes With Us, Is Happy That America Is Getting Embroiled In Palestine

“The Israelis are known to love life. We, on the other hand, sacrifice ourselves. We consider our dead to be martyrs. The thing any Palestinian desires the most is to be martyred for the sake of Allah, defending his land.

[…]

“We have been preparing for this for two years. We have local factories for everything. We have rockets with ranges of 250 kms, 160 kms, 80 kms, 45 kms, and 10 kms.

“We have factories for mortars and their shells. We have factories for manufacturing B-7 and B-10 guns and their shells. We have factories for manufacturing Kalashnikov rifles and their bullets. We have a Russian license to produce Kalashnikov bullets in Gaza.

[…]

“Our allies are those that support us with weapons and money. First and foremost it is Iran that is giving us money and weapons. There is also Hizbullah, and the Arab and Islamic people who are standing by us. There are countries that support us politically. Even Russia sympathizes with us. Even the Russians sent us messages yesterday morning. They sympathize with us. Russia is happy that America is getting embroiled in Palestine.  It alleviates the pressure on the Russians in Ukraine. One war eases the pressure in an- other war. So we are not alone on the battlefield.”

Ahmad Abd Al-Hadi – Hamas Representative In Lebanon

Hamas Representative In Lebanon Ahmad Abd Al-Hadi: ‘This Is Not The Final War Of Liberation; Israel Always Sets Far-Reaching Goals And Ends Up Asking For Ceasefire’

October 12, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10528

Hamas representative in Lebanon Ahmad Abd Al-Hadi said in an October 12, 2023 show on NBN TV (Lebanon) that the goal of its ‘strategic deception“ was to make Israel “fall asleep for a while, making it believe that Gaza was not going to do anything.“ He said that this is the reason that Hamas did not join the August 2022 and May 2023 rounds of fighting between Gaza and Israel. Abd Al-Hadi added that Hamas and other factions had managed attacks against Israel in the West Bank from Gaza in order to move Israel‘s focus from Gaza to there. Later in the interview, he said that in this operation Hamas has made several steps forward in its enterprise to liberate Palestine and destroy Israel. Abd Al-Hadi stated that another goal of the operation was to land a blow to the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries.

Interviewer: “How was operation [Al-Aqsa Flood] carried out, if you could share the information that is available? We see it as a very wonderful, beautiful, and sweet attack. It was as if we were watching a Hollywood movie.”

Ahmad Abd Al-Hadi: “The goal of our strategic deception…was to make this [Zionist] entity fall asleep for a while, making it believe that Gaza was not going to do anything. You saw that Hamas did not join the [2022] ‘Union of the Arenas’ battle. It did not intervene, but it played a major role along with our brothers in the Islamic Jihad. Hamas did not join the [May 2023] ‘Revenge of the Free’ clashes either. Also it seemed that the Hamas movement is under pressure and busy with other things, financial matters…A lot of things were said, and at the same time, we and the other factions activated the resistance in the West Bank.

“We kept the [Gaza] front quiet, and all the action was in the West Bank. So all the attention was directed there. So the Zionist enemy moved most of its forces there…It directed most of its attention to the West Bank…This was a strategic deception, and it included many other things. Netanyahu’s slogans of ‘we will crush them’ and so on and so forth – these are all slogans for domestic consumption. He wants to raise the Zionist army’s morale. These slogans will evaporate quickly, as more and more days of battle pass. In all the battles of the past, he would set far-reaching goals at first, and then these goals would slowly diminish, and ultimately he would ask for a cease-fire.

“We have made several steps forward in our enterprise to liberate Palestine. How will this be translated into something tangible – we must not talk about it now.”

Interviewer: “The liberation of Palestine means the destruction of Israel?”

Ahmad Abd Al-Hadi: “Of course. This is our enterprise as a resistance movement but this is not the battle for the final liberation, as I have said, but we are on the way there. When we talk about strategies…this attack landed a blow to the normalization [of relations between Israel and Arab countries]. What happened before will not be the same after this operation. This was one of the operation’s goals.”

Marwan Abu Ras – Hamas MP

Hamas MP Marwan Abu Ras Calls On West Bank To Rise Up Against The Palestinian Authority: Mahmoud Abbas Is a Traitor; May Allah Take Revenge On Criminal, Nazi America

December 2, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10699

Hamas MP and member of Board of Trustees of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Marwan Abu Ras said in a December 2, 2023 show on Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas-Gaza) that the Israeli occupation is worse than the Nazis, and that in fact such a comparison is an insult to the Nazis. He added that there is not one crime that America did not commit against Gaza, and he asked Allah to “settle the score“ and take revenge against “that criminal Nazi country.“ Abu Ras said that Israel is powerless in the face of the young men who strive for martyrdom, more than it and its people strive for life.

Marwan Abu Ras: “The [Israeli] occupation is worse than the Nazis. Such a comparison is an insult to the Nazis. It is a worse criminal than fascists. It is a worse criminal than any criminal that has ever walked the face of the earth.

[…]

“The occupation must be defeated and have its nose rubbed in the mud of Gaza. The occupation knows full well that it is facing fierce resistance by the young men that are known to have been brought up in mosques, nurtured on the Quran and on the Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad, the martyred Jihadi leader, the honorable and infallible Prophet Muhammad. These young men were nurtured on the honorable Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad. I say to [Israel] that it is powerless in the face of these young men, because they strive to be martyred more than you, your soldiers, and your country strive to live.

[…]

“If it was up to that criminal [Palestinian] Authority that engages in security cooperation with the occupiers – be it the Zionist occupier or the Nazi Americans… If it wasn’t for the resistance, we would be living in humiliation and disgrace because of this shameful Authority. Rise up against the [Palestinian] Authority, do not let it rule over you!

[…]

“Everything that this enemy does, it does with American equipment, even American personnel, and an American plan. A short while ago, it was reported that the United States said that it viewed the new war plans for the second round of the war against Gaza. There isn’t a single crime that the U.S. has not committed against Gaza. May Allah settle the score with America, and may He take revenge on that criminal Nazi country.”

Hisham Qasem – Hamas Official

Hamas Official Hisham Qasem Explains The Abduction Of Thai Nationals To Gaza: We Detained Them For Their Own Safety Due To Indiscriminate Israeli Shelling Of The Area

November 26, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10675

Hamas official Hisham Qasem discussed the release of Thai nationals abducted by Hamas on October 7 on a November 26, 2023 show on TRT TV (Turkey). He said that Hamas had “detained” them for their own safety, due to Israel’s shelling of the Al-Qassam Brigades, foreign laborers, and Israeli civilians in the area. Qasem acknowledged Turkey’s role in mediating their release.

Hisham Qasem: “[Turkey and Hamas] discussed the release of some of the [Thai] detainees. As we said at the beginning of the October 7 operation, these [Thai nationals] were detained for their own protection, because on October 7, the forces of the Zionist army was shelling the houses with people inside – whether members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, [foreign] laborers, or even the Zionist inhabitants of those settlements.

“This was admitted in the initial investigation of the Interior Ministry, as reported by Maariv and Haaretz. So yes, the brothers in Turkey made contacts about this. The brothers delivered this message, and the release of 11 Thai detainees was arranged, as part of yesterday’s exchange. It was agreed that 13 Zionists would be released yesterday, and ultimately, 24 people were released, 11 of whom were Thai nationals, in acceptance of this blessed mediation by Turkey.”

Ayman Shanaa – Head Of Hamas In Sidon, Lebanon

Hamas Official Ayman Shanaa: The Zionists Are Carrying Out A “Blatant Attack On Civilians” – They Must Be Stopped; On October 7 We Exercised Our “Legitimate Right” To Liberate Our Land And We Are Willing To Pay The Price

November 26, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10675

The head of Hamas in Sidon, Lebanon, Ayman Shanaa, said on a November 2, 2023 show on LBC TV (Lebanon) that there is a high price to pay for resistance, and the Palestinians are willing to pay it. He continued to say that the Zionists were carrying out a “blatant attack on civilians,” and therefore the world should stop them. Shanaa stated that Hamas is defending its land and on October 7 they exercised their “legitimate right” to resist and liberate their lands. He claimed that Hamas had not targeted women and children on October 7, that all the ‘settlers” in the Gaza Envelope were combatants, and that Hamas treats the women and children it is holding in Gaza “humanely.”

Shanaa: “Let us examine history. Let us look at Algeria, Vietnam, and other countries that we liberated. How many did they sacrifice? Millions of martyrs. Therefore, I am saying that there is a high price to pay on the path of resistance, and we will bear this price. Our Palestinian people have been the target of these massacres. There are more than 10,000 martyrs, yet we have not heard a single mother burying her child, and protesting the presence of the resistance in the Gaza Strip.

[…]

“Our people are not disgruntled. We are willing to pay the price, but the world should put an end to these Zionist massacres, because this is not an honorable way. It is a bla- tant attack on civilians, in violation of all the international covenants and human rights laws. As a resistance movement, we consider what we are doing to be defense of our land. What we did on October 7 was [to exercise] the legitimate right of the resistance on its path to liberate its land, and we are willing to pay the price in full.

[…]

“Unfortunately, we were sent [aid] trucks full of shrouds. Honestly, this is… They sent trucks full of shrouds for the dead.”

Reporter: “Do you mean the aid trucks?”

Shanaa: “Yes, some of them had aid, and many had shrouds. Our Palestinian people do not need shrouds.”

Sami Abu Zuhri – Head Of The Political Bureau Of Hamas Abroad

Hamas Senior Official Sami Abu Zuhri Calls For Violence Against American And British Interests Worldwide; Adds: Blinken Is An Enemy, Just Like Netanyahu; Both Will Pay The Price

December 13, 2023 – Special Dispatch No. 11015

Sami Abu Zuhri, head of the political department of Hamas abroad called on a December 5, 2023 show on Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas-Gaza) for acts of violence against worldwide interests of America, Britian, and other countries that support Israel. He said that Blinken is “the enemy” just like Netanyahu, and he will pay the price, just like Netanyahu. Abu Zuhri added that that the Americans and British must pay a price for the blood of the women and children in Gaza, and they must know that Gaza is not alone.

Blinken Is The Enemy, Just Like Netanyahu

Sami Abu Zuhri: “When Blinken is justifying the killing of women and children, the sons of our nation should say to him: You are the enemy, just like Netanyahu, and you must pay the price, just like Netanyahu. We should keep this in mind.

“So if our nation thinks that the heroic acts of Al-Qassam Brigades release it from its responsibility – that is a misconception and a mistaken assessment that should be dis- carded. The Al-Qassam Brigades are doing what they must do, and the people of Gaza are as steadfast as they must be.

“We Need Violent Acts Against American And British Interests, As Well As The Interests Of All The Countries That Support The Occupation”

“Now it is our nation’s turn to pressure the Americans to stop this war. We need violent acts against American and British interests everywhere, as well as the interests of all the countries that support the occupation.

“They must pay a price for the blood of our women and children who are being killed in cold blood in the streets of Gaza. They must pay a price so that they know that Gaza is not alone, and that when they gave the order to kill, they should have been prepared to pay the necessary price.”

Senior Hamas Official Sami Abu Zuhri: Israelis Are A Bunch Of Bloodsuckers Who Derive Pleasure From Killing; Their Military Is Mentally Defeated And No Match For People Who Eagerly Pursue Martyrdom

November 9, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10625

Sami Abu Zuhri, head of the political department of Hamas abroad, said on a November 9, 2023 show on Al-Mahriah TV (Yemen) that Israeli society and military have been “mentally defeated.“ He said that Zionist society is not accustomed to or “receptive“ of death, and therefore Israeli families of soldiers consider the death of their sons as a “tragedy,“ and this projects on the morale of the entire society. Abu Zuhri said that Palestinians are facing a “bunch of bloodsuckers,“ who derive pleasure from killing. He said that Israeli military was morally defeated by the October 7 attack and that the “occupation“ cannot win against “fighters who eagerly chase martyrdom.“

Sami Abu Zuhri: “In general, the occupation soldiers have been mentally defeated. We saw this during the battle of October 7, when all the Zionist military settlements in the Gaza Envelope were dismantled in a matter of hours. The so-called ‘Gaza Division’ evaporated. This was an example of the defeated nature and mentality of the occupation army. The occupation does not have real soldiers. It has an army, but this army is mentally defeated. One cannot win with such an army. On the other hand, when you have fighters who eagerly chase martyrdom, the outcome is well known.

“In addition, Zionist society is not accustomed to, or receptive of, death. For an [Israeli] family whose soldier son is killed this is a disaster and a tragedy, and they project their defeated spirit on the rest of Zionist society. Today, we are not talking about one, 10, 20 dead Zionists. We are talking about hundreds. Death has entered many homes, in most of the occupied Palestinian cities (Israel). This is reflected in a negative way on the cohesion of that society, and its determination to remain on the land of Palestine.

“In addition, Zionist society is not accustomed to, or receptive of, death. For an [Israeli] family whose soldier son is killed this is a disaster and a tragedy, and they project their defeated spirit on the rest of Zionist society. Today, we are not talking about one, 10, 20 dead Zionists. We are talking about hundreds. Death has entered many homes, in most of the occupied Palestinian cities (Israel). This is reflected in a negative way on the cohesion of that society, and its determination to remain on the land of Palestine.

[…]

“Even though Israeli society is defeated, it is united behind its leadership in the matter of fighting. We are facing a bunch of bloodsuckers. (Israeli society derives pleasure from killing.”

Talal Nassar – Hamas Official Based In Turkey

Turkey-Based Hamas Official Talal Nassar: Mahmoud Abbas Is Dead To Us

October 20, 2023 – MEMRI TV Clip #10550

Turkey-based Hamas official Talal Nassar said on an October 20, 2023 show that aired on Al- Shoub TV (Turkey) that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is “dead to us.“ He said that Abbas coordinated with the Israeli occupation against Hamas and the resistance in general. He added: “Mahmoud Abbas has been cast aside.“

Talal Nassar: “Mahmoud Abbas has said that he was living under the boots of the oc-cupation. He said that the security coordination [with Israel] was sacred, and that the resistance was despicable. Brother, we have nothing to do with Mahmoud Abbas. He is dead to us.

“He is worthless, as far as we are concerned, because he acted against the resistance and coordinated with the occupation, against our movement and against the resistance in general. Therefore, I say that Mahmoud Abbas has been cast aside.”

EDITORS NOTE: This MEMRI report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.