Editorial
Last Sunday, with a sixteen-page document in English and Arabic, Hamas on its telegram channel, in the name of Allah, explains the reasons that led to the attack on October 7th. The message, with the highest emotional impact, which seeks to justify the barbarism perpetrated clarifies that "No massacre, rape or beheading of children should ever be tolerated."
According to Hamas, the horrors of October 7 were justified by the need to respond to the Israeli occupation and the actions of its military. The document released on Telegram accuses Israel and its international supporters, with the United States in the lead, and presents a defense statement invoking the "Islamic values” to protect women, children and the elderly.
Titled 'Our narrative… Al-Aqsa flood', the document states that it wants to “clarify to the Palestinian people and the free peoples of the world the reality of what happened on October 7", before carefully examining the 75 years of “Zionist occupation”.
Hamas therefore justifies the October 7 attacks as a “necessary step” to address alleged Israeli conspiracies against the Palestinian people. He claims that the fighters only targeted occupation soldiers and those carrying weapons against the Palestinian people. He admits possible errors during the operation due to the rapid collapse of the Israeli military and security system, stating that damage to civilians, if any, was accidental during clashes with the occupation forces.
Hamas categorically denies accusations such as “40 children beheaded"and "mass rape", considering them lies created to fuel an alleged genocide in Gaza by Israel. He criticizes the US administration for its financial and military support of Israel, defining the country as a state above the law.
"The Palestinian people's battle against occupation and colonialism did not begin on October 7, but began 105 years ago, including 30 years of British colonialism and 75 years of Zionist occupation“, states the document in its introductory chapter.
Highlighting the failure of the peace process, the massive incarceration of Palestinians, the “Judaization” of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the 17-year blockade on Gaza, the group asked: “What did the world expect the Palestinian people to do?”
The group also claims that its fight against Israel is justified from the perspective of international law, stating: “We emphasize that resisting the occupation by all means, including armed resistance, is a right legitimized by all norms, divine religions, international laws, including the Geneva Conventions and its First Additional Protocol and related resolutions of UN".
However, the group also tries to justify some of the deaths by disputing the use of the term “civilian.”
“Speaking of Israeli civilians, it must be known that the conscription applies to all Israelis over 18 – males who have performed 32 months of military service and females who have performed 24 months – where all can carry and use weapons,” he states the group.
Referring to statements from survivors, Israeli officials and media reports, Hamas also blamed Israel for the civilian deaths on 7 October.
"Many Israelis were killed by the Israeli army and police due to their confusion“, the group said.
Stop Israeli aggression
Hamas urged “the immediate halt to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the crimes and ethnic cleansing committed against the entire population of Gaza”, and declared that he rejects all international and Israeli efforts to decide Gaza's post-conflict future.
"We emphasize that the Palestinian people have the ability to decide their own future and organize their own internal affairs.", the report said, adding that “nowhere in the world” has the right to decide for them.
Dr Azmi Bishara, director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, told The New Arab that the report is a “positive step” despite being presented more than 100 days after Israel's assault on Gaza.
Some observers have speculated that the timing, and the publication of the document in Arabic and English, may also be a response to Palestinian pressure on Israel's assault on Gaza, forcing the group to clarify its objectives.
Subscribe to our newsletter!