Our Narrative... Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
Hamas' statement on their objectives and operations on Oct 7
“We would like to clarify to our people and the free peoples of the world the reality of what happened on Oct. 7, the motives behind, its general context related to the Palestinian cause, as well as a refutation to the Israeli allegations and to put the facts into perspective.”
This week the Hamas Media Office published an 18 page document to tell their story of the tragic events of Oct 7, 2023. I am inclined to accept this narrative, given that I know with certainty that Israel lies, the narrative is consistent with reports from the ground, and it fits with what I already believe happened on that day. Yes I am admitting to confirmation bias, at least I am honest. As I know many folks will not read an 18 page document in full, I have written a summary here, although I do recommend reading the full document. As you read this summary, and/or the full document, I want you to keep in mind the vast amounts of Islamophobia inherent in the counter narrative put forth by Israel and the Western media. I want you to read the following without preconceived notions of who Hamas is. I know you we are all human, so it will be hard to put aside our existing bias, but I ask you to try.
The Narrative is broken into 5 sections: Read full document
Why Operation Al-Aqsa Flood?
The events of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and responses to the Israeli allegations.
Towards a transparent international investigation.
A reminder to the world, who is Hamas?
What is needed?
1. Why Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
“The battle of the Palestinian people against occupation and colonialism did not start on Oct. 7, but started 105 years ago, including 30 years of British colonialism and 75 years of Zionist occupation.”
This first sections lays out the historical background of Israeli aggression and oppression. They point out that in 1918 Palestinian people owned 98.5% of the land and represented 92% of the population, the Zionist Movement managed to seize control of 6% of the lands in Palestine and were 31% of the population prior to 1948. By the time Israel declared itself a state, 77% of the land of was under zionist control, and 57% of the people of Palestine were expelled. The Zionist Militias destroyed over 500 Palestinian villages and towns, and committed dozens of massacres against the Palestinian people.
The document goes on to detail the forms of oppression, injustice, and apartheid Palestinians have been subjected to by Israel since the 1948. They remind us that in 2018 the people of Gaza initiated the Great March of Return, demonstrations to peacefully protest the Israeli blockade and to demand their right-to-return. However, the Israeli occupation forces responded to these protests with brutal force, killing 360 Palestinians, and injuring 19,000, including over 5,000 children, all in a matter of few months. They document that between Jan 2000 and Sep 2023, 11,299 Palestinians were killed, and 156,768 were injured, by the Israeli Occupation. Through all this the US has backed Israel in every way, despite numerous UN resolutions, in fact the US administration and its western allies have been treating Israel as a state above the law.
The Narrative lays out how any peace process has been derailed by Israel, both by committing war crimes and massacres, but also by allowing and supporting wide spread violent settlement of palestinian lands by a messianic Jewish cult. Furthermore the document reminds us of the desecration of muslim holy sites, and the public denial of a Palestinian state by Israeli leaders. The document asks—After 75 years of relentless occupation and suffering, and after failing all initiatives for liberation and return of our people, and after the disastrous results of the so-called peace process, what did the world expect the Palestinian people to do in response to the following:
Continued Israeli incursions, desecrations and divisions of Al Aqsa Mosque
Extremist Israeli government taking steps towards annexing the entire West Bank and Jerusalem, amid plans to expel Palestinians from their homes and areas.
The thousands of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails being beaten, humiliated and denied basic human rights
17 years of brutal air, sea, and land blockade of Gaza, creating what has been called the world’s largest open air prison.
The ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements across the West Bank and the daily violence perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians and their properties.
The seven million Palestinians living in extreme conditions in refugee camps and other areas who wish to return to their lands.
The failure of the international community and the complicity of superpowers to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
2. The events of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and responses to the Israeli allegations
“Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Oct. 7 targeted the Israeli military sites, and sought to arrest the enemy’s soldiers to pressure on the Israeli authorities to release the thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli jails through a prisoners exchange deal.”
In this section Hamas describes the events of Oct 7 from their perspective. They also counters many of the narratives being disseminated by Israel and the West. The document tells us how the goal of the operation was to take captives, in order to pressure Israel to return Palestinians illegally detained by the Occupation. It goes on to reiterate that civilians were never the target, that they had no prior knowledge of the music festival, and that their fighters were under orders to only fire on soldiers and those who carried weapons. It bears reminding here that Israel is a marshal country, most citizens serve in the army, and undoubtedly many “civilians” were armed and fighting as combatants.
We are reminded of the multiple testimonies of kind and caring treatment of the hostages taken on that day. We are also reminded of the chaos created by the Israeli forces, due in part to their being caught off guard. Furthermore we are reminded that the Israeli forces were under orders to not allow hostages to be taken to Gaza under any circumstances. In other words, the Israeli soldiers were to kill their own, rather than allow them to be taken hostage. This has been documented by Israeli media sources. The document then lays out some of the details that counter the Israeli narrative:
Video along with the testimonies of Israelis that were released showed that the Al-Qassam Brigades’ fighters didn’t target civilians, and many Israelis were killed by the Israeli army and police.
The lie of the “40 beheaded babies” has been firmly proven false, even though many of western media agencies promoted it.
The Mondoweiss news website on Dec. 1, 2023, among others, reports there is a lack of any evidence of “mass rape” allegedly perpetrated by Hamas members on Oct. 7 and that Israel used such allegation “to fuel the genocide in Gaza.”
According to two reports by Yedioth Ahronoth and Haaretz, Hamas fighters reached the festival without prior knowledge of its existence. When the Israeli forces arrived, an Israeli helicopter opened fire on both the Hamas fighters and the participants in the festival. The Israeli’s struck over 300 targets in areas surrounding the Gaza Strip, to stop hostages from being taken to Gaza that day.
Other Israeli testimonies confirmed that the Israeli army raids, and soldiers’ operations, killed many Israeli captives and their captors. Including bombing the houses in Israeli settlements where Palestinian fighters, and Israelis, were inside. Further proof of the Hannibal Directive being invoked on Oct 7
Furthermore, the occupation authorities revised the number of their killed soldiers and civilians from 1,400 to 1,200, after finding that 200-burnt corpses had belonged to the Palestinian fighters who were killed and mixed with Israeli corpses. Hamas fighters do not have the capability to inflict this much damage.
The Israeli’s heavy bombardment across Gaza led to the death of nearly 60 Israeli captives.
3. Towards a transparent international investigation
“Palestine is a member-state of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and it acceded to its Rome Statute in 2015. When Palestine asked for investigation into Israeli war crimes committed on its territories, it was faced by Israeli intransigence and rejection, and threats to punish the Palestinians for the request to ICC”
In this section Hamas reminds us that the events of Oct. 7 must be put in its broader context, and that all cases of struggle against colonialism and occupation be considered. These experiences of struggle show that in the same level of oppression committed by the occupier; there would be an equivalent response by the people under occupation.
We are reminded of the Western countries collusion with Israel to shield them from any prosecution in the International courts. Hamas urges western powers to give full support for the international courts to effectively do their job. Despite having doubts in the process, they also urge the ICC Prosecutor and his team to immediately and urgently come to occupied Palestine to properly investigate Israeli war crimes. Hamas is confident that any fair and independent inquiries will prove the truth of their narrative.
4. A reminder to the world, who is Hamas
“The Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” is a Palestinian Islamic national liberation and resistance movement. Its goal is to liberate Palestine and confront the Zionist project. Its frame of reference is Islam, which determines its principles, objectives and means. Hamas rejects the persecution of any human being or the undermining of his or her rights on nationalist, religious or sectarian grounds.”
We are reminded that Hamas is a Palestinian national liberation movement. Its stated goal is to liberate Palestine and confront the Zionist project. Its frame of reference is Islam, which determines its principles, objectives and means.
Hamas affirms that its conflict is with the Zionist project not with Jews. Hamas does not wage a struggle against the Jews because they are Jewish, but wages a struggle against the Zionists who occupy Palestine. Yet, it is the Zionists who constantly identify Judaism, and the Jews, with their own colonial project. In response to the exploitation of Jewish suffering in Europe, to justify the oppression against Palestine, we are reminded that the Arab and Islamic environment was—across history—a safe haven to the Jewish people. Hamas firmly states that the current conflict is caused by the Zionist aggressive behavior and its alliance with the Western colonial powers.
The document stresses that resisting occupation with all means, including armed resistance, is a legitimized right by all norms, and international laws, including the Geneva Conventions. We are reminded that Israel, as an occupying power, can not claim self defence. In the course of the aggression on Gaza, the occupation deprives people in Gaza of food, water, medicines and fuel. Put simply, Gaza has been deprived of all means of life. Israeli warplanes strike infrastructures and public buildings, including schools, universities, mosques, churches and hospitals in a clear sign of ethnic cleansing aimed at expelling the Palestinian people from Gaza. Yet, the backers of the Israeli occupation do nothing but keep the genocide ongoing.
5. What is needed
“Occupation is occupation no matter how it describes or names itself, and remains a tool to break the will of the peoples and to keep oppressing them. The experiences of the peoples\nations across history confirm that resistance is the only way to liberation and ending occupation. Have any nation been liberated from occupation without struggle, resistance or sacrifice?”
Humanitarian, ethical and legal imperatives require all countries around the world to back the resistance of the Palestinian people, not collude against it. The Nations of the world are supposed to confront the occupations crimes and aggressions, and support the struggle of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination. Based on that Hamas calls for the following:
1. The immediate halt of Israeli aggression, crimes and ethnic cleansing committed against the entire Gaza population. To open the crossings and allow entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including reconstruction tools.
2. To hold the Israeli occupation legally accountable for crimes against civilians, infrastructure, hospitals, educational facilities, mosques and churches.
3. The support of the Palestinian resistance in the face of the Israeli occupation with all possible means as a legitimized right under the international laws and norms.
4. We call upon the free peoples across the world, to take serious and effective positions against the double standard policies adopted by Western powers. We call on these nations to initiate a global solidarity movement with the Palestinian people, and to emphasize the values of justice, equality and the right of peoples to live in freedom and dignity.
5. The superpowers, especially the US, the UK and France, among others, must stop providing the Zionist entity political cover, and to stop dealing with it as a country above the law. We urge the countries across the globe, today more than ever, to uphold their responsibilities towards international law and the relevant UN resolutions that call for ending the occupation.
6. We categorically reject any international or Israeli projects aimed at deciding the future of Gaza that only serve to prolong the occupation. We stress that the Palestinian people have the capacity to decide their future and to arrange their internal affairs, and thus no party in the world has the right to impose any form of guardianship on the Palestinian people or decide on their behalf.
7. We urge for standing against the Israeli attempts to cause another wave of expulsion—a new Nakba—especially in the lands occupied in 1948 and the West Bank. We stress that there will be no expulsion to Sinai, or Jordan, or any other place, and if there is any relocation of Palestinians, it will be towards their homes and areas they were expelled from in 1948, as affirmed by many UN resolutions.
8. We call for keeping popular pressure around the world until the occupation has ended. We call for standing against the normalization attempts with the Israeli entity, and for a comprehensive boycott to the Israeli occupation and its backers.
So there you go, a summary of the official Narrative of Hamas regarding Oct 7. As I said in the intro, this narrative fits with what I have always believed happened on that day. It never made sense to me that Hamas would carry out one of the most difficult operations of its history, just to massacre innocents. Sorry too much Islamophobia in that narrative for me to believe it. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not idealizing Hamas, or any other Military force. War is horrifying, completely unnecessary, and serves only one purpose, control over others. I am against war, but I am not against armed resistance when every other measure has been tried. The Palestinians tried every other possible tool to end their oppression, each time they were met with extreme violence, they have been left with no other choice but armed resistance. I stand with those fighting oppression, always.
Until next time, stay curious, keep questioning, and don’t stop demanding change!