Moussa Abu Marzouk said Hamas’s armed wing “don’t have to consult with the political leadership”

A senior Hamas leader has refused to acknowledge that his group killed civilians in Israel, claiming only conscripts were targeted.

Moussa Abu Marzouk told the BBC that “women, children and civilians were exempt” from Hamas’s attacks.

His claims are in stark contrast to the wealth of video evidence of Hamas men shooting unarmed adults and children.

Israel says more than 1,400 people were killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks, most of them civilians.

Mr Marzouk, the group’s deputy political leader, who is subject to an asset freeze in the UK under counter-terrorism regulations, was interviewed on Saturday in the Gulf. He is the most senior member to speak to the BBC since the 7 October atrocities.

The BBC pressed Mr Marzouk on the war on Gaza, specifically on the scores of hostages being held inside the territory.

He responded that they were not able to be freed while Israel was bombing Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry says 10,000 people have been killed since Israel started operations last month.

“We will release them. But we need to stop the fighting,” he said.

Mr Marzouk recently travelled to Moscow to discuss eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens snatched on 7 October by Hamas, a proscribed terror organisation in many countries including the UK and US.

He said Hamas members in Gaza had “looked for and found two female hostages” from Russia but were unable to release them because of the conflict.

They could only realistically release hostages, he said, if “the Israelis stop the fighting so we can hand them over to the Red Cross”.

Challenged by the BBC about the attack of 7 October, Mr Marzouk claimed that Mohamed el-Deif, the leader of Hamas’s Qassam Brigades military wing, had ordered his men to spare civilians.

“El-Deif clearly told his fighters ‘don’t kill a woman, don’t kill a child and don’t kill an old man’,” he said.

Reservist soldiers were, he said, “targeted”. He maintained that only “conscripts […] or soldiers” were killed.

But women, children and civilians were “exempt”, he said.

The BBC challenged the senior Hamas leader on videos captured from the helmet cameras of Hamas fighters, which show unarmed civilians being shot in their cars and homes.

Mr Marzouk, whose polished, measured manner during the interview sometimes slipped into irritation, did not answer the question directly.

When asked if Hamas’s political wing had known of preparations for the attack, the deputy leader said that the armed wing “don’t have to consult with the political leadership. There is no need.”

The political wing, based in Qatar, often presents itself as being remote from the military forces in Gaza.

The UK government sees no distinction – it proscribed the Hamas political wing as a terrorist organisation in 2021, saying that “the approach of distinguishing between the various parts of Hamas is artificial. Hamas is a complex but single terrorist organisation“.

Mr Marzouk is also listed as a specially designated global terrorist by the US Treasury Department, and is indicted on several charges of co-ordinating and financing Hamas activities.

Hostage crisis

The interview on Saturday came after Israel had refused US requests for a “humanitarian pause” in Gaza to let aid in and help get out some of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Friday all hostages must be released before any temporary truce could be agreed.

Mr Marzouk claimed that Hamas did not possess a list of all those he referred to as “guests”, nor did he know where many were, because they were being held by “different factions”.

There are several groups inside Gaza including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which work closely with Hamas but are ostensibly independent.

He said a ceasefire was needed to compile the information – there were other priorities while the territory was under bombardment.

Mr Marzouk will play a key role in how the conflict with Israel plays out, and is likely to be central in negotiations over the hostages.

Source

1,101 comments
  1. I’m still learning from you, while I’m trying to achieve my goals. I definitely enjoy reading everything that is written on your blog.Keep the information coming. I liked it!

  2. I¦ll immediately take hold of your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me recognise so that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  3. Wow, superb weblog format! How lengthy have you been blogging for? you make running a blog look easy. The overall look of your web site is wonderful, as well as the content material!

  4. Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my users would definitely benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Thanks!

  5. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

  6. I needed to compose you the tiny observation to give many thanks again for these exceptional techniques you have shown on this website. It is simply shockingly generous of you to provide unreservedly precisely what a number of us could have distributed as an ebook to earn some cash for themselves, even more so since you could possibly have tried it in case you desired. These good ideas also served to become a good way to know that other people online have the identical desire the same as mine to understand a whole lot more pertaining to this issue. I think there are many more pleasant situations in the future for many who read through your blog post.

  7. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn something like this before. So nice to find any individual with some original ideas on this subject. realy thanks for starting this up. this web site is something that’s wanted on the web, someone with a bit originality. helpful job for bringing one thing new to the web!

  8. Fit spresso stands as a scientifically validated weight loss formula intricately crafted from potent ingredients, aimed at enhancing the body’s metabolic functions. Tailored to support the circadian rhythm and ignite the fat-burning process, this supplement is conveniently available in edible pill form for daily consumption.

  9. Fit spresso stands as a scientifically validated weight loss formula intricately crafted from potent ingredients, aimed at enhancing the body’s metabolic functions. Tailored to support the circadian rhythm and ignite the fat-burning process, this supplement is conveniently available in edible pill form for daily consumption.

  10. Sumatra Slim Belly Tonic is a dietary supplement aimed at supporting weight loss and metabolic health. It features natural ingredients like herbs and vitamins that may boost metabolism, reduce appetite, and improve digestion. Marketed as a daily tonic, it helps promote a slimmer belly by enhancing the body’s fat-burning processes. Always review the ingredient list and consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.

  11. Fitspresso is a brand-new natural weight loss aid designed to work on the root cause of excess and unexplained weight gain. The supplement uses an advanced blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support healthy weight loss by targeting the fat cells’ circadian rhythm

  12. Fitspresso is a brand-new natural weight loss aid designed to work on the root cause of excess and unexplained weight gain. The supplement uses an advanced blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support healthy weight loss by targeting the fat cells’ circadian rhythm

  13. Fitspresso is a brand-new natural weight loss aid designed to work on the root cause of excess and unexplained weight gain. The supplement uses an advanced blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support healthy weight loss by targeting the fat cells’ circadian rhythm

  14. Бренд Balenciaga — это выдающимся домов высокой моды, который появился в первой половине 20 века испанским дизайнером Кристобалем Баленсиагой. Он славится уникальными дизайнерскими решениями и необычными силуэтами, нарушают стандартам индустрии.
    https://balenciaga.whitesneaker.ru/

  15. Admiring the time and effort you put into your website and in depth information you present. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material. Great read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  16. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I have really loved browsing your weblog posts.
    After all I’ll be subscribing on your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!

    Also visit my web site … Top Rated

  17. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.

  18. Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles
    as long as I provide credit and sources back
    to your site? My blog site is in the exact same
    area of interest as yours and my visitors would genuinely benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.

    Please let me know if this alright with you. Regards!

    my webpage – tonic greens review

  19. Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your web site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¦ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What an ideal web-site.

  20. I want to express my affection for your kindness giving support to those people that actually need guidance on this one subject. Your very own commitment to passing the solution around turned out to be extremely invaluable and have specifically enabled those much like me to attain their desired goals. Your warm and helpful facts means so much to me and a whole lot more to my office colleagues. Best wishes; from each one of us.

  21. I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!

  22. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

  23. Что такое BlackSprut?
    Платформа BlackSprut привлекает интерес широкой аудитории. В чем его особенности?
    Эта площадка предлагает интересные функции для своих пользователей. Оформление системы характеризуется удобством, что делает его интуитивно удобной даже для тех, кто впервые сталкивается с подобными сервисами.
    Стоит учитывать, что BlackSprut имеет свои особенности, которые делают его особенным в своей нише.
    При рассмотрении BlackSprut важно учитывать, что многие пользователи оценивают его по-разному. Многие подчеркивают его удобство, а некоторые оценивают его неоднозначно.
    В целом, BlackSprut остается объектом интереса и привлекает интерес широкой аудитории.
    Свежий домен БлэкСпрут – ищите здесь
    Хотите найти актуальное зеркало на БлэкСпрут? Это можно сделать здесь.
    bs2best актуальная ссылка
    Периодически ресурс перемещается, и тогда нужно знать новое ссылку.
    Мы следим за изменениями и готовы поделиться актуальным линком.
    Проверьте рабочую версию сайта у нас!

  24. На этом сайте можно найти последние международные политические новости. Ежедневные публикации дают возможность быть в курсе ключевых изменений. На сайте публикуются решениях мировых лидеров. Объективная аналитика помогают оценить происходящее. Оставайтесь информированными на этом сайте.
    https://justdoitnow03042025.com

  25. If everything in this universe has a cause, then surely the cause of my hunger must be the divine order of things aligning to guide me toward the ultimate pleasure of a well-timed meal. Could it be that desire itself is a cosmic signal, a way for nature to communicate with us, pushing us toward the fulfillment of our potential? Perhaps the true philosopher is not the one who ignores his desires, but the one who understands their deeper meaning.

  26. Time is often called the soul of motion, the great measure of change, but what if it is merely an illusion? What if we are not moving forward but simply circling the same points, like the smoke from a burning fire, curling back onto itself, repeating patterns we fail to recognize? Maybe the past and future are just two sides of the same moment, and all we ever have is now.

  27. Virtue, they say, lies in the middle, but who among us can truly say where the middle is? Is it a fixed point, or does it shift with time, perception, and context? Perhaps the middle is not a place but a way of moving, a constant balancing act between excess and deficiency. Maybe to be virtuous is not to reach the middle but to dance around it with grace.

  28. hey there and thank you for your information – I have definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again very soon..

  29. The essence of existence is like smoke, always shifting, always changing, yet somehow always present. It moves with the wind of thought, expanding and contracting, never quite settling but never truly disappearing. Perhaps to exist is simply to flow, to let oneself be carried by the great current of being without resistance.

  30. Здесь вам открывается шанс испытать большим выбором игровых слотов.
    Игровые автоматы характеризуются красочной графикой и захватывающим игровым процессом.
    Каждая игра даёт уникальные бонусные раунды, увеличивающие шансы на выигрыш.
    1xbet казино зеркало
    Игра в игровые автоматы предназначена игроков всех уровней.
    Есть возможность воспользоваться демо-режимом, а затем перейти к игре на реальные деньги.
    Испытайте удачу и насладитесь неповторимой атмосферой игровых автоматов.

  31. Virtue, they say, lies in the middle, but who among us can truly say where the middle is? Is it a fixed point, or does it shift with time, perception, and context? Perhaps the middle is not a place but a way of moving, a constant balancing act between excess and deficiency. Maybe to be virtuous is not to reach the middle but to dance around it with grace.

  32. Time is often called the soul of motion, the great measure of change, but what if it is merely an illusion? What if we are not moving forward but simply circling the same points, like the smoke from a burning fire, curling back onto itself, repeating patterns we fail to recognize? Maybe the past and future are just two sides of the same moment, and all we ever have is now.

  33. The essence of existence is like smoke, always shifting, always changing, yet somehow always present. It moves with the wind of thought, expanding and contracting, never quite settling but never truly disappearing. Perhaps to exist is simply to flow, to let oneself be carried by the great current of being without resistance.

  34. The potential within all things is a mystery that fascinates me endlessly. A tiny seed already contains within it the entire blueprint of a towering tree, waiting for the right moment to emerge. Does the seed know what it will become? Do we? Or are we all simply waiting for the right conditions to awaken into what we have always been destined to be?

  35. All knowledge, it is said, comes from experience, but does that not mean that the more we experience, the wiser we become? If wisdom is the understanding of life, then should we not chase every experience we can, taste every flavor, walk every path, and embrace every feeling? Perhaps the greatest tragedy is to live cautiously, never fully opening oneself to the richness of being.

  36. Friendship, some say, is a single soul residing in two bodies, but why limit it to two? What if friendship is more like a great, endless web, where each connection strengthens the whole? Maybe we are not separate beings at all, but parts of one vast consciousness, reaching out through the illusion of individuality to recognize itself in another.

  37. Im no longer certain where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I must spend a while finding out much more or working out more. Thank you for fantastic info I used to be looking for this info for my mission.

  38. If everything in this universe has a cause, then surely the cause of my hunger must be the divine order of things aligning to guide me toward the ultimate pleasure of a well-timed meal. Could it be that desire itself is a cosmic signal, a way for nature to communicate with us, pushing us toward the fulfillment of our potential? Perhaps the true philosopher is not the one who ignores his desires, but the one who understands their deeper meaning.

  39. Here offers a large assortment of decorative clock designs for every room.
    You can check out modern and vintage styles to fit your living space.
    Each piece is carefully selected for its visual appeal and durability.
    Whether you’re decorating a creative workspace, there’s always a perfect clock waiting for you.
    seiko mantel chime clocks
    Our catalog is regularly expanded with exclusive releases.
    We prioritize a smooth experience, so your order is always in safe hands.
    Start your journey to enhanced interiors with just a few clicks.

  40. All knowledge, it is said, comes from experience, but does that not mean that the more we experience, the wiser we become? If wisdom is the understanding of life, then should we not chase every experience we can, taste every flavor, walk every path, and embrace every feeling? Perhaps the greatest tragedy is to live cautiously, never fully opening oneself to the richness of being.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

OpenAI staff demand board resign over Sam Altman sacking

By Chris Vallance, Annabelle Liang & Zoe Kleinman Technology and business reporters…

Time travel: What if you met your future self?

By Hal Hershfield15th November 2023 Imagining a conversation with “future you” has…

Can AI cut humans out of contract negotiations?

By Sean McManus Technology Reporter “Lawyers are tired. They’re bored a lot…

Nasa astronaut Frank Rubio has just returned from a record-breaking 371 days in space onboard the ISS, but the trip may have altered his muscles, brain and even the bacteria living in his gut.

With a few handshakes, a brief photoshoot and a wave, Nasa astronaut…

AI: EU agrees landmark deal on regulation of artificial intelligence

European Union officials have reached a provisional deal on the world’s first…

The race to buy AI website addresses

By David Silverberg Technology reporter When tech entrepreneur Ian Leaman needed to…

Israel Gaza: US rejects global calls for ceasefire

By Antoinette Radford BBC News The US has rejected global calls for…

Urgent need for terrorism AI laws, warns think tank

By Chris Vallance & Imran Rahman-Jones BBC News The UK should “urgently…