Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has provided insights into its actions during the October 7 rampage in a comprehensive 16-page report. Within this document, Hamas candidly acknowledged "some faults" that transpired as a consequence of the rapid disintegration of the Israeli security and military systems. The chaos that ensued along the border areas with Gaza further contributed to these shortcomings, as stated in the report, which outlined the group's perspective on the series of events.
According to the report, Hamas deemed its attacks on Israel on October 7 as a "necessary step" crucial for confronting what it perceives as Israeli conspiracies against the Palestinian people. This acknowledgment comes in the wake of one of the most substantial attacks on Israel in recent years, involving the launch of approximately 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants.
The Israeli response to this surprise offensive, particularly in southern Israel, triggered a declaration by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "we are at war, and we will win." He emphasized that the enemy would face unprecedented consequences for its actions. In the aftermath of these hostilities, the Israeli Defence Forces retaliated, escalating tensions in the region.
The 16-page document represents Hamas' first public release in both English and Arabic, offering justifications for its attacks and highlighting the circumstances that led to the reported shortcomings. The attacks resulted in a significant loss of lives, with nearly 1,400 casualties, predominantly civilians. During the rampage, Hamas even held around 250 hostages, with Israel claiming that approximately 132 individuals remain in Gaza.
In its statement, Hamas called for an immediate halt to Israeli aggression, condemning crimes and ethnic cleansing against the Gaza population. The group asserted the Palestinian people's capacity to determine their future and internal affairs, emphasizing that no external party had the right to make decisions on their behalf.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the death toll exceeding 25,000 and over 1.7 million people displaced. UN agencies are sounding alarms over the urgent need for better aid access to address imminent concerns of famine and disease in the region.
Meanwhile, Israel is intensifying its offensive against Hamas in southern Gaza, aiming to dismantle the group responsible for what is considered the deadliest attack in the country's history. The escalating tensions and violence in the region also raise apprehensions about a broader conflict, potentially involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
