Photo: Open source
24 February 2025 – For the first time since the bloody events of 7 October 2023, a senior Hamas official has admitted that the attack on Israel was a fatal mistake. In an interview with The New York Times, the head of Hamas’s international department, Musa Abu Marzouk , frankly stated: “If we could have foreseen the consequences, 7 October would not have happened.”
This unprecedented admission comes more than a year after Hamas’s massive invasion of Israel, which caused thousands of casualties on both sides and catastrophic destruction in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas’ change in rhetoric: a turning point?
Prior to this statement, the Hamas leadership had repeatedly emphasised the success of the attack, calling it a “victory” over Israel. However, Abu Marzouk’s words were the first public deviation from the group’s official line.
His comparison of the conflict to a boxing match between a newcomer and the legendary Mike Tyson sounded like a desperate attempt to justify the huge losses among Palestinians:
“If an untrained rookie survives Tyson’s punches, people will say he has won,” Abu Marzouk said, hinting that Hamas’ very survival is already a “victory”.
However, even he acknowledged that this statement is unacceptable in the global context:
“We are talking about a side that lost control and took revenge on everyone. This is not a victory under any circumstances,” he added, alluding to Israel’s destructive retaliatory actions.
Cracks in Hamas unity
Abu Marzouk’s statement vividly highlighted the internal contradictions in Hamas. It contradicts the recent words of another leader of the group, Osama Hamdan, who categorically rejected the possibility of disarming the “resistance force” during the Doha conference.
Abu Marzouk, on the other hand, hinted at the possibility of negotiations on the future of Hamas’ military units in Gaza. This indicates a possible split in the leadership of the group – between the radical wing and those seeking a way out of the protracted conflict.
However, when it came to possible compromises – such as international control over Hamas’ arsenal or a halt to tunnel construction – Abu Marzouk evaded direct answers, emphasising the complexity of the situation.
The hostage issue: a game to raise the stakes
Abu Marzouk has taken a tough stance on the issue of hostages held by Hamas since October 2023. He stated that the group would demand a much larger exchange:
“500 or even 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli hostage,” he suggested, arguing that the hostages are mostly soldiers.
At the same time, he hinted at a possible “great exchange” if Israel agrees to end the war, withdraw from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners en masse.
What’s next?
The recognition of Abu Marzouk could be a first step towards a breakthrough in the stalled conflict, although the situation remains extremely difficult. His words shed light on the deep divisions within Hamas and reflect an understanding of the catastrophic consequences for the Palestinian people.
On the other hand, the tough stance on the hostage issue shows that Hamas is not ready to make significant concessions without serious guarantees from Israel.
So far, the world seems to have witnessed a rare moment of introspection on the part of Hamas. However, time will tell whether this will lead to real change.
