Last week, one of Hamas’ senior leaders praised the 7th October 2023 massacre in Israel as a major achievement that will be taught to future generations of Palestinians with pride, even when the group had agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal that came into effect on Sunday.
Khalil al-Hayya was Hamas’s top negotiator in the ceasefire and hostage talks, but despite pressing for an end to the current war, he declared that the group would continue fighting to destroy Israel.
It is precisely for that reason the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have started a new counter-terror operation in the city of Jenin, early on Tuesday afternoon. They are well aware that Hamas is trying to build a significant presence in Judea and Samaria.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the new President of the USA, Donald Trump, is not confident the ceasefire deal in Gaza will hold.
The Anadolu Agency reported al-Hayya as repeating the false accusation that Israel has conducted a “war of genocide” and threatening that Hamas will not forget those who have supported Israel.
And speaking in a location far away from the fighting, he went on to say:
“In this historic moment, we extend words of pride and honour to our people in Gaza.”
He praised the ordinary people of Gaza for providing “an impenetrable shield for their resistance,” as if the Gazan civilians had any choice in the matter. Many reports over the last 15 months have revealed that anyone who disobeyed Hamas was likely to be shot.
Screenshot from MEMRI article.
The BBC even reported al-Hayya as saying Hamas would now seek to “rebuild Gaza again, alleviate the pain, heal the wounds,” as if this is a compassionate move on the part of the organisation – ignoring the fact that Hamas brought the pain, the wounds, and the devastation upon Gaza.
More details in the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) article linked to the screenshot above.