A senior Hamas leader and also Minister for Social Development in the Hamas government, in Gaza, Dr Ghazi Hamad, was recently in Nigeria to appeal to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians to tell Israel to stop the war against Palestinians. During his visit, he had an interview on Channels TV ‘Politics Today’, which was monitored by David Lawani, where he said they want the war to end so that Palestinians can live a normal life, among other issues
What is your assessment of the situation as it is today?
I think the situation in Gaza is very catastrophic and hard because we have lost a lot of people. From the smallest, we have lost about 3000 innocent people. About thirty thousand children were killed. And about ten thousand women were killed. We also have destroyed hospitals, schools, and universities. They killed more than 126 journalists and 166 of the medical staff. And 112 of the UN staff in Gaza. This gives you the kind of image and atrocities that are in Gaza by the Israelis invasion.
What is the issue with population? Like over a million killed from your assessment?
More than half a million from the North and South. They destroyed more than 260,000 homes in Gaza, which has about 50,000 to 60,000 people. I think this is about the biggest crime in Gaza, and they are killing civilians. They bring the towers on the heads of the people, while they are sleeping. I can explain. Some of the fathers, mothers, and all the children were killed.
Are you getting humanitarian help?
I think Israel is fighting on three prongs. First of all, to kill the innocent, then kill those giving the care and the third point is starvation. They prevent assistance from getting to people, especially in North Gaza, and they put more restrictions on the task of assistance to reach Gaza. So, I think it is a big deal in the war. These people are inhuman. They are fighting against the Palestinian people, against our existence. The spoil of the war is occupation. We are suffering from all kinds of oppression and assassination. I think some international organisations like Amnesty International have ties with the UN. All these international organisations have accused Israel of crimes against our people. How would they be able to kill about 13,000 children?
Why Hamas did do what they did late last year? Who is behind Hamas?
We are under their occupation. What is the mission of occupation? Killing and assassination. You lost your identity, passport, freedom, etc. You lost everything. I am in Gaza and living there. I cannot go there without the permission of Israel. You have sea and air yet you cannot import. We are in a very hard circumstances.
What are the restrictions from the Egyptian border like?
Some restrictions. They prevent some people from trading. In North Gaza, we are suffering from starvation and that is because it is established. Ask Israel, even from the United States of America.
As a leader in the Hamas government, what was in your mind when Hamas attacked Israel?
Let’s start from the specifics. Before that, if you go back to history, all Palestinian people are against the occupation. We want to get rid of the occupation. We want to live in peace. We want security and stability. Since 1948, we have been fighting against occupation, but I can’t tell you what the problem is. Before that, they committed so many crimes. They brought radical Jews inside. They abuse the Muslims. Every day there is incursion and killing of people in the West Bank- assassinations here and there. The situation is terrible and I think we have some connection with the Egyptians. Even the UN has explained to them to stop, but they refused. The Palestinian authority has spent 30 years negotiating with Israel- talks and agreements and everything, but they had a deal after 30 years of negotiations. We think Israel is not interested in the Palestinian opportunity to establish their state.
Why?
The UN said the border belongs to the Palestinians, but why bring Jews to live in the Palestinian territory? Why are you building settlements in the Palestinian territory? This is the situation. We, as Palestinians, think of the occupation. It is our legal right to fight against it. It is a continuous violation against our people.
Don’t Hamas regret staging that attack against Israel?
Why should we regret the attack against Israel? Because all the time, they are killing us and destroying us. They killed our children. They have taken our lands. I think we have waited for 75 years for the world should take some steps to help the Palestinians. Why they didn’t take possession of Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Iran, and everywhere? All the time they feel they are above international law. They are supported by the USA. No one can curb Israel. They can kill Palestinians. We can prevent them from the mosque. They have committed all kinds of crimes against our people. No one stops them. The only option for us now is that the atrocities of Israel are disturbing.
Do you still have some of those that have been abducted by Hamas in Gaza? Or where are they?
I want you to know something. It is a military operation. It has directives for military purposes. We never plan or have the intention to direct these operations to the civilians. Because as Muslims, we believe that we should not hide civilians. The head of the sub-brigade, Amadiff declared that avoid children, women, and sick people. Don’t touch them. Do you know when these hostages were taken to Gaza? Some people gave them all kinds of dignity and shelter. No one hurt them- about 7,000. Every day they are under operation targeting, humiliation, and killings. Many people died in the process.
Is there a defence for why Hamas should be using children and women as shields?
We never did that. There is no proof. That Hamas is using children.
Where are the children abducted from that attack? Where are they?
They are still in Gaza. We are doing everything to return them to Israel. We want to free our prisoners. We have about 7 thousand prisoners. Some of them have spent close to 40 to 45 years without jail. Why? They spend this long time in Israel. We want to free our prisoners.
If Israel is willing to release your prisoners, are you ready too to release those abducted?
Yes, we are.
Is that what you are dangling for peace?
I think our goal now is to stop the war in Gaza. It is not a war between Hamas and Israel. It is a war in Gaza. If it is war you have to restructure the regulations of the war. When Israel pulled retaliation by killing civilians. About more than 95 persons are civilians. I don’t know why the world is keeping silent over atrocities in Gaza.
Is it true that the US, UN, and some world powers are allegedly indulging Israel?
Yes, because the UN supports Israel with weapons to kill Palestinians with American weapons. All the time, we accuse the US as part of the crime against our people because they open the bridge for money, weapons, and massive support for them.
Why is Hamas seeking the extermination of Israel?
If someone enters your home, rapes your wife, kill your children and steal your money plus your arms. What do you expect? For 70 years, the Israeli occupation has been committing crimes against our people. My father was killed by Israel, I spent five years in prison. My mother was shot by the Israelis and my home was destroyed completely. So, what do you expect from the Palestinians?
If you have the opportunity you will take out Israel? Is that what you mean?
We want to end the occupation. We want to be free. We want to establish our state. Why is Israel insisting on occupying the West Bank, Jerusalem, Gaza? They should go out of the Palestinian territory and give them a chance. Why do they bring Jews from all over the world from Russia, America, and France to live in Palestine? They are Jews. This is unjust and unfair.
What is that one thing that will gladness the heart of Hamas as a government? Is it to take out Israel?
Our goal is to free Palestine to establish our state. It is our right. You know we have seven million Palestinians scattered all over the world. This is the right to retain their homelands because it belongs to them, and it is our right that Palestinians should live in Palestine. We spent more than five years in Spain, but we can’t claim there. Why is Israel now saying Palestine is open for anyone to come? Why are they bringing them to the Palestinian territory?
Are you worried about Hamas’s designation as a terrorist organisation?
We are just focused on the occupation. We have never used the military against Americans, Jews, and Christians- we never. Hamas is a liberation organisation. We are not ISIS. We are not Al-Qaeda. We are just fighting for the liberation of the Palestinian people that is all.
Are you a militant group?
We have the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
How do you defend the world organisation’s description of Hamas as a terrorist organisation?
Who will accuse the atrocities of the Israelis? Israel is the face of terrorism. They are the source of evil. Israel is the face of all kinds of atrocities. Hamas will never kill children, women, or innocent people. It is not in our ethics and morals. I think Hamas has proved that all the time. Hamas is a civilised community with morals. It is an organisation taking care of the Palestinian people, and I think we are committed to ethics and morals. Never use intrusion against anyone.
What are you expecting from the Nigerian government on this trip?
Well, I think Nigeria as a big country influences Africans to Palestinian people. We expect the Nigerian government and the Nigerian people to give us support in the political aspects. South Africa took a brave step ICJ. They are different from the Palestinian people. Most of the African States suffer from the Western occupation. I think they are suffering with the Palestinian people. I expect they give more support to the Palestinian people.
As you return home, what new message do you have for the US, Europe, the UK, and the world?
They first and foremost remove the glass of Israel from their eyes. We want them now to be neutral. They should be human and respect international laws. To the suffering Palestinians for 75 years, they should not support Israel or keep silent over the crimes in the Palestinian territory. The US, UK, and Europe will lose if they continue to support Israel. They will lose their credibility. They believed in the human rights in the international law. My message to them is to stop supporting Israel and their aggression against our people
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