Hamas leader Ghazi Ahmed termed the October 7 attack on Israel as a “lesson for those who want to normalise relationships for economic gains” as he explained the logic behind the offensive.
In an interview to Arabic TV, Ahmed said the world is talking of Palestine again. “We managed to humiliate Israel and its security. The Palestinian issue is back on the table. The UN is openly asking why they have taken this action. We are suffering from illegal occupation.”
He added that the October 7 attack was a military operation directed at soldiers and military bases around Gaza and it was not directed at citizens.
Decoding the attack, Ahmed emphasised three important points:
1. It was a military operation against the occupation. “The idea was to kidnap their soldiers and break military establishments,” he said.
2. “We wanted to tell the world that we are also capable. Just in six minutes, we took control of everything, including electronic barriers and other equipment. Their claims were destroyed badly,” he added.
3. Ahmed said the Palestine issue was back on the table and the world was questioning the logic behind the attack. “This is the responsibility of the whole Arab world to come together and fight. We are against occupation and the Muslim brotherhood is fighting against it. This attack is a lesson for all the countries that wanted to normalise relations with Israel. Israel can’t protect themselves, how can it protect you?” he asked.
THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE WAR
Fighting in the Gaza Strip raged for a 22nd day Saturday after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
Since the October 7 attack, the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip says more than 7,300 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s relentless retaliatory bombardments, mainly civilians and many of them children.
Israel pounded Gaza with air and artillery strikes on Saturday after an intense night of attacks when the army said 150 “underground targets” were hit.
“Terror tunnels, underground combat spaces and additional underground infrastructure” were struck, the military said, adding that “several Hamas terrorists were killed”.