In a series of interviews with the New York Times, top leaders of Hamas revealed their true intentions behind the recent attacks on Israeli civilians. Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas’ highest leadership body, defended the terror group’s actions, stating that it was their goal to keep the Palestinian issue in the forefront of attention. He also admitted that Hamas had no interest in governing the Gaza Strip or in improving the lives of its 2 million residents.
According to al-Hayya, the Oct. 7 attack on Israeli civilians was aimed at reigniting the conflict with Israel and garnering support from the Arab world. “We succeeded in putting the Palestinian issue back on the table, and now no one in the region is experiencing calm,” he told the newspaper from Qatar. The admission confirms Israel’s long-held belief that Hamas uses violent attacks as a means to further their political goals.
Taher El-Nounou, a Hamas media adviser, echoed al-Hayya’s sentiments, stating that Hamas’ goal was not to govern Gaza or provide essential services to its people. “I hope that the state of war with Israel will become permanent on all the borders and that the Arab world will stand with us,” he said. It is clear that Hamas is more interested in perpetuating a state of chaos and violence rather than focusing on the well-being of the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has responded swiftly and heavily to Hamas’ attack, carrying out continuous airstrikes that have reportedly killed thousands in Gaza. Israeli officials have refused to discuss a ceasefire until their citizens, who were kidnapped by Hamas, are returned safely.
While the people of Gaza continue to live in poverty and struggle to receive basic necessities such as water and electricity, it was revealed that Hamas leaders are living a life of luxury. Reports estimate that top Hamas leaders such as Khaled Mashaal, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mousa Abu Marzouk are worth billions of dollars each.
Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at The Foundation For Defense of Democracies, spoke about the shocking amount of money that has been amassed by these Hamas leaders. “It’s just really the numbers that are shocking, looking at the sheer amount of money that some of these terror chiefs have been able to sock away,” he said in an interview with Fox News.
The group itself is also estimated to earn over $1 billion a year from a global network that includes activities such as cryptocurrency, real estate, and even taxing and extorting Gaza residents.
In conclusion, the recent interviews with Hamas leaders have shed light on the true intentions of the terror group. It is clear that they are more interested in perpetuating violence and furthering their political agenda than in governing and improving the lives of the people they claim to represent. As the conflict between Hamas and Israel continues, it is important to keep in mind the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
