In a recent interview with the BBC, senior Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk denied that his group intentionally targeted and killed civilians during the 7 October attacks in Israel. He claimed that only conscripts were targeted, and that “women, children and civilians were exempt” from Hamas’s attacks. However, this claim contradicts the overwhelming evidence of Hamas men shooting unarmed adults and children. Israel has reported that over 1,400 people were killed by Hamas in the attacks, the majority of whom were civilians.
Mr Marzouk, who is the group’s deputy political leader, made these statements while being interviewed in the Gulf, where he is subject to an asset freeze in the UK under counter-terrorism regulations. He is the most senior member of Hamas to speak to the BBC since the attacks took place.
During the interview, the BBC questioned Mr Marzouk about the scores of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. He responded that they were unable to be freed while Israel continued their bombings. The Hamas-run health ministry claims that 10,000 people have been killed since Israel started their operations last month. Mr Marzouk stated that Hamas would release the hostages once the fighting ceases and they are able to hand them over to the Red Cross.
The senior Hamas leader recently traveled to Moscow to discuss the situation of eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens who were abducted by Hamas on 7 October. He stated that Hamas members in Gaza had found two female hostages from Russia but were unable to release them due to the ongoing conflict. He asserted that hostages could only be released if Israel stops the fighting.
When asked about the attack on 7 October, Mr Marzouk claimed that Hamas leader Mohamed el-Deif had given orders to spare civilians. He stated that El-Deif had instructed his fighters not to kill women, children, or old men. However, the BBC confronted Mr Marzouk with helmet camera videos of Hamas fighters shooting unarmed civilians in their cars and homes. He did not directly address this evidence and instead focused on the distinction between Hamas’s political and military wings.
The UK government does not recognize this distinction and has proscribed both wings of Hamas as a terrorist organization. Mr Marzouk is listed as a specially designated global terrorist by the US Treasury Department and is indicted on multiple charges of coordinating and financing Hamas activities.
The interview took place after Israel rejected US requests for a “humanitarian pause” in Gaza to allow aid in and facilitate the release of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that all hostages must be released before considering a temporary truce.
Mr Marzouk claimed that Hamas does not possess a comprehensive list of the hostages and is unaware of their locations because they are held by various factions within Gaza, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad. He stated that compiling this information would require a ceasefire, as there are other priorities while the territory is under bombardment.
It is clear that Moussa Abu Marzouk will play a pivotal role in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, particularly in negotiations regarding the release of hostages. The international community awaits further developments and resolutions to this tense situation.
