Hamas co-founder Mousa Abu Marzouk lost his temper and stormed off from a live interview after being pressed on the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza. The interview, aired on Egyptian-based Al-Ghad television, saw Marzouk lose his temper when asked whether the Hamas attacks had helped the Palestinian cause. His outburst, which included telling the host to ‘Go to hell,’ has sparked backlash from Palestinian leaders and signals growing internal turmoil within Hamas as the war in Gaza draws to a close.
Marzouk, who is based in Qatar and a founding member of Hamas, insisted the attacks were ‘resistance to occupation’ and that a small group of fighters could never ‘liberate’ Palestine on its own. However, the journalist questioned whether the Hamas attacks had achieved anything meaningful for the Palestinians. The incident has been widely shared on social media and highlights the deepening rifts within Hamas as Gaza lies in ruins.
Jamal Nazzal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian political and nationalist movement Fatah, slammed Marzouk’s remarks, calling them ‘a disgrace’ and stating they expose the ‘moral and political bankruptcy’ of a crumbling group that can no longer look people in the eye.
Marzouk’s comments, which aired on the Egyptian-based Pan-Arab Al-Ghad’s ‘With Wael,’ quickly spread across social media and came amid growing infighting and turmoil within Hamas as the war comes to an end. The incident has been interpreted as a sign of a widening rift among the organization’s leadership.
Earlier this year, Marzouk expressed regret over the Oct. 7 attacks, telling The New York Times he would not have supported the attack if he had known of the havoc it would wreak on Gaza. ‘If it was expected that what happened would happen, there wouldn’t have been Oct. 7,’ he said. However, Hamas issued a statement saying the comments were ‘incorrect’ and taken out of context.
The Israeli government approved and signed the first phase of the President Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza overnight Thursday. The agreement includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This development comes as tensions remain high in the region, with both sides seeking to address the aftermath of the devastating war.
Marzouk, described as a billionaire in multiple reports, has been a key figure in Hamas politics. His public outburst has raised questions about his role and authority within the organization, particularly as internal conflicts persist following the war in Gaza.