Hamas Official Questions Support for Oct. 7 Attack Amid Gaza Devastation

A leading figure in Hamas raises questions about the devastating impacts of the organization's recent military tactics after a disastrous offensive on Gaza unfolded.

For months, Hamas leaders have stood firm in their defense of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, believing it signified a crucial stand against their adversary. However, the subsequent Israeli offensive turned Gaza into a scene of devastation, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians and widespread destruction of infrastructure. While Hamas has stated it achieved "victory" against Israel, the consequences of the initial aggression have bred a significant humanitarian crisis. Nearly two million people have been displaced, suffering from catastrophic shortages of food and essential healthcare.

In a candid interview with The New York Times, Mousa Abu Marzouk, head of Hamas’s foreign relations office based in Qatar, expressed serious reservations about the nature of the attack. He stated that had he been aware of the severe fallout that would follow, he would not have endorsed the operation. He emphasized the dire implications the assault had on Gaza's population, suggesting that knowledge of such consequences would have made it "impossible" for him to support the military strategy that was adopted.

Although Abu Marzouk did not receive specifics regarding the Oct. 7 operation—which left approximately 1,200 dead and 250 hostages taken—he indicated that political leaders within Hamas had generally backed the overarching military strategy. "If it was expected that what happened would happen, there wouldn’t have been Oct. 7," he noted, demonstrating a reflective position amidst the turmoil generated by the conflict.