Hamas Official Ghazi Hamad: U.N. Sec-Gen António Guterres Clearly Stated Why Palestinians Were Forced To Carry Out The October 7 Attack

Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’s Political Bureau appeared on two Lebanese TV channels on October 25, 2023, and spoke about the October 7 attacks and his organizations’ policies. On a show on Al-Jadeed TV, he was asked why Hamas is firing rockets at Israel from southern Lebanon, which is in the jurisdiction of Hizbullah and the Lebanese government. Hamad replied that this question is out of place, “because everyone should fight against the [Israeli] occupation.” He added that Israel is a “cancer” that poses a danger to Lebanon and all the Arab region.

In an interview with Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah – Lebanon), he explained the reasoning behind the October 7 attack, saying that U.N. António Guterres “clearly stated” the reasons that forced the Palestinians to “take this measure.” He said that October 7 was a military operation directed at the soldiers and military bases around the Gaza Strip, and it was intended for military gains. Hamad continued to say that Hamas wanted to send a message to the Arab countries that were going to establish relations with Israel that Israel cannot protect them from Iran, because it cannot even protect its own citizens. In addition, Hamad said, the attack was carried out in order to raise awareness for the Palestinian cause, adding that the people of the world must realize that “the reason for all the evil and all the crimes in the region is the occupation.”

Host: "Why is Hamas firing rockets from Southern Lebanon?"

Ghazi Hamad: "This is a weird question."

Host: "Why?"

Hamad: "I believe that the responsibility for confronting the enemy should be…"

Host: "Why? Hamas is in Gaza, and Hizbullah is in Lebanon."

Hamad: "I am not talking about Hamas. "

Host: "I mean the Lebanese government and Hizbullah are in Lebanon, and Hamas is in Gaza."

Hamad: "The responsibility for confronting the occupation and liberating Palestine falls on Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and all the Arab countries. This is their duty."

Host: "So are you saying that Hamas has a right to fire its rockets from Lebanon?"

Hamad: "What I am saying is that it is the Arab patriotic duty of every Arab to stand by the Palestinians. Just as we stood by Lebanon, by our brothers in Iraq, and by every Arab… I believe that this is a basic issue."

[…]

Host: "So Hamas is going to continue firing rockets from Lebanon?"

Hamad: "Israel poses a danger to Lebanon, for Syria, and for the entire Arab region. Therefore, I believe that it is a sign of bravery, manhood, heroism, and Arab patriotism to fight against the occupation. We salute every one who is fighting against the occupation.

[…]

"First of all, the [October 7] attack was purely a military operation. It was directed at the soldiers and military bases around the Gaza Strip. It was not directed against Civilians - as some people say - and it was not good for any other purpose. The aim was to enter deep into [Israeli] territory, take control of the military regions, kidnap soldiers, and break the reputation of the Israeli military and security structure which boasted that no one can get to it, defeat it, and gain control over it.

"Within six minutes – not six hours, six minutes – we were able to break through the electronic barrier, as well as the early warning and surveillance systems in their entirety, despite the tanks, the weapons, and the soldiers who were armed to their teeth. A small number of fighters gained control of all this in six minutes. This caused a great shock for the occupation.

[…]

"Second, the issue of normalization [of relations between Arab countries and Israel]… We sent a very strong message to the countries that were going to establish relations with the occupation for the sake of economic benefit or so [Israel] would protect them from Iran or form any other danger… I believe that this concept was resoundingly shattered. Israel cannot protect you. It cannot even protect its own citizens.

"Third – and this is very important – the Palestinian cause is back on the table. Today, the entire world is on its feet. The U.S., Europe… Of course in a negative way, but the Palestinian cause is back on the table. The world needs to realize that the Palestinian people exist, they are suffering from occupation, and the reason for all the evil and all the crimes in the region is the occupation. I believe that this is a very important issue.

"Today, the entire world, the Arab countries, the Arab summit… The UN Security Council… All the countries in the world, from Japan to South Africa, are seeking liberation. They began to see that the source of the problem in this conflict is the occupation. And indeed, yesterday [U.N. Sec.-Gen.] Guterres clearly stated why the Palestinians were forced to take this measure."