A Hamas chief says they are going to surrender governing Gaza, however gained’t lay down arms

DOHA, Qatar — Hamas is keen to concede on governing the Gaza Strip after the battle, however won’t lay down arms in opposition to Israel, one of many group’s leaders says.

Basem Naim, a pacesetter in Hamas’ politburo, met with NPR in Qatar for a wide-ranging interview in regards to the battle with Israel, prospects for a cease-fire deal and the way the Palestinian group now views its Oct. 7 assault on Israel.

Palestinian militants used parachutes, velocity boats and explosives to infiltrate Israel’s border within the assault. Naim says Hamas was shocked by how shortly Israel’s defenses crumbled.

Israel says round 1,200 folks had been killed that day. One other 250 folks, together with troopers, had been taken hostage.

Abnormal folks from Gaza rushed throughout the border that Hamas had breached, resulting in “a lot of chaos,” Naim says.

“Maybe this has led to some mistakes or had led to some steps which was not part of this operation,” he provides. “But at no time I would regret defending my dignity and freedom, regardless of the prices. We were living in a prison. And we have tried to knock the doors of this prison.”

Israel revealed physique cam video footage that Hamas militants filmed throughout the operation. Scenes present a whole bunch of our bodies at a music competition, the blood of individuals killed of their houses and terrified Israelis being dragged off to captivity.

Israel’s punishing retaliation upends life in Gaza

Gaza’s Well being Ministry says Israel’s army retaliation — now in its eleventh month — has killed greater than 40,000 Palestinians, with hundreds extra unaccounted for. It says total households have been buried underneath the rubble of Israeli airstrikes.

Israel says its army operations have been exact and focused at Hamas. It blames Hamas for working in civilian areas.

Gaza’s Well being Ministry depend doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians killed, however has recognized most as ladies and youngsters. The ministry has recognized practically 11,000 kids among the many lifeless.

“They are creating walls of blood, walls of aggression, which I am sure the next generation will not be ready to compromise on anything,” Naim says.

“It is a matter of time. When is the next round [of fighting]? Unless they give us our genuine rights as Palestinians,” he says.

Some internally displaced civilians in Gaza have expressed anger not solely at Israel for its offensive, however at Hamas’ leaders for not defending them in opposition to Israel’s retaliation.

Naim says Palestinians have tried all means, peaceable and armed, to attain an unbiased state.

Earlier than the Oct. 7 assault, Jewish settlements had been increasing alongside what Palestinians noticed as rising encroachment in East Jerusalem, areas captured by Israel within the 1967 Mideast battle. Arab governments, together with the United Arab Emirates that has shut ties with Israel, had been condemning deadly Israeli assaults on Palestinians within the West Financial institution, which had reached their highest ranges in virtually 20 years. A far-right authorities had taken energy in Israel.

Naim says a complete era of Palestinians was dropping every little thing. “No vision, no horizon … no scenario that this will end soon.”

Hamas survives assassinations

Naim met with NPR on July 13 in Hamas’ workplace, in a villa within the suburbs of Qatar’s capital, Doha. The group’s presence there may be a part of a long-standing association backed by america to maintain a channel of communication open by means of Qatar as a mediator. The US, European Union and Israel label Hamas a terrorist group.

Two weeks after Naim spoke with NPR, Hamas’ prime chief based mostly in Qatar, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated throughout a go to to Iran.

Israel knowledgeable the U.S. it was behind his killing, a U.S. official advised NPR on situation of anonymity in an effort to talk about particulars of the delicate operation.

Hamas selected Yahya Sinwar, the group’s Gaza chief thought to have directed the Oct. 7 assault, as Haniyeh’s successor. It was seen as a message of defiance to Israel and the U.S., which has supported Israel with weapons all through the battle.

As a part of Hamas’ prime political management, Naim is also focused. Israel has vowed a worldwide manhunt to kill Hamas leaders.

Hamas says assassinations solely harden help for the group, giving figures like Haniyeh the badge of martyrdom amongst supporters.

Based as an Islamist Palestinian motion in 1987, Hamas has been governing Gaza since seizing management in 2007 and has fought a number of wars with Israel since then. The group has survived a long time of high-profile killings.

“Hamas is a Palestinian national movement working for and struggling for the liberation of Palestine,” Naim says.

“It is an institution. It is not a one-man show.”

Hamas remains defiant even as it acknowledges losses

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on continuing the war in Gaza until Hamas’ military and governing abilities are eliminated. He has also vowed to block the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying it would harm Israeli security.

Analysts say Hamas has been severely degraded from Israel’s punishing military campaign. Israel says it has dismantled nearly all of the group’s battalions in Gaza.

But Naim says the group cannot be eradicated. He says Hamas will not lay down arms — something Netanyahu has insisted must happen.

“Why not ask the other party to be this disarmed at the same level?” Naim says, referring to Israel. “We will be disarmed if you can guarantee that we will not be attacked.”

Specialists say it’s going to take years to rebuild Gaza and clear the munitions left behind by the war. Nearly all of Gaza’s roughly 2 million residents are now displaced from their homes and most of the Gaza Strip’s buildings, including schools and hospitals, have been damaged, according to the U.N.

With a view to obtain a cease-fire deal that results in worldwide funds to rebuild Gaza, Hamas understands it should make concessions.

“We are not willing to come back to govern the Gaza Strip,” Naim says, although he doesn’t say for a way lengthy.

“What we are calling for is a Palestinian unity government, formed from technocrats who are not affiliated to any faction but supported from all factions … to run the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” he says.

Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah, which has a much bigger presence within the West Financial institution, struck a deal not too long ago, with China as a dealer, that requires the creation of a unity authorities. It’s unclear when, or if, this may occur. The 2 factions fought each other for management of Gaza in 2007, resulting in Hamas’ takeover of the territory and an Israeli-led blockade strictly controlling motion out and in of the enclave.

Hamas claims very pricey wins in opposition to Israel

Naim says the Oct. 7 operation, which Hamas dubbed Al-Aqsa Flood, had a number of targets, together with to kidnap Israeli troopers in change for Palestinian prisoners serving lengthy phrases.

Hundreds extra Palestinians have been detained all through the battle, nonetheless. Forty-four detainees from Gaza have died in Israeli army custody because the starting of the battle, in response to a doc the army offered to Physicians for Human Rights Israel and reviewed by NPR.

Naim says Israel’s picture as a nation representing “Western values of human rights and democracy” has been shattered by the battle. He says the battle additionally confirmed Israel’s reliance on america, together with in capturing down Iranian aerial strikes in April.

“I think yes, we have achieved a lot,” he says, earlier than including: “It is very costly. It is very expensive.”

The German-educated surgeon, who as soon as served as a minister of well being and of youth and sports activities in Gaza, says Israeli airstrikes earlier this 12 months killed his mom and grandchildren in Gaza.

“Anyone who has chosen this way of life, he is aware that he might pay some prices,” he says. “And I’m not more precious than all these children, including my children, my mother who has been killed.”

In contrast to different Hamas leaders lengthy in exile in Qatar, Naim had at all times been in Gaza.

He left Gaza shortly earlier than the October assault for a gathering in Turkey, unaware of the operation’s timing, he says. Had he recognized, he says, he wouldn’t have left Gaza Metropolis, the place his spouse and youngsters are struggling on their very own.

Regardless of the unprecedented price Palestinians have paid in Israel’s retaliation, Naim continues to defend Hamas’ selections.

He says earlier than Oct. 7, the world had been trying previous the Palestinians, ignoring their plight. One other Arab nation, Saudi Arabia, was inching nearer to establishing formal relations with Israel.

“We were nearly deleted from the agenda of the region and international community,” he says. “I think today the situation is totally different.”

Abu Bakr Bashir contributed reporting from London.