Had Moussa Abu Marzouk been able to predict the extent of Israel's destruction in Gaza, he would have been unable to support his movement's plans for the attack on Israel in October 2023.
If what had happened had been expected, October 7 would not have occurred, if you ask me, he says.
In an interview with The New York Times, Marzouk hints that there is a certain willingness to negotiate on the disarmament of Hamas, which is labeled as a terrorist organization. The question of the militant Palestinian movement's future combat capability has long been a stumbling block in the talks with Israel, which wants Hamas to completely disarm to avoid new attacks like the one on October 7.
The 74-year-old Moussa Abu Marzouk was the first leader of Hamas' political branch in the 1990s. Today, he leads the movement's political bureau's foreign department from exile in Qatar.
Whether his view on the October 7 attack, which triggered Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, is shared by other leaders within the movement is unclear. In a statement to The New York Times, Hamas claims that Marzouk is wrong and that he has been quoted out of context.
Israel and Hamas are expected to begin negotiations in the coming days on the second phase of the ongoing ceasefire, which is intended to lead to a permanent ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, disputes over issues such as the exchange of Israeli prisoners for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel have delayed the talks.
