As the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza entered its tenth month and left over 40,000 Gazans dead, one of the group’s prominent leaders renewed calls to continue its fight against Israel and even suggested the return of suicide attacks against Israelis.
#ICYMI: Hamas Leader Abroad Khaled Mashal Calls to Renew “Martyrdom” Operations, Adds: We Call on Student Leaders in the West and Arab and Islamic Countries to Renew Protests at University Campuses pic.twitter.com/M3awoTWpuI
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) September 1, 2024
In a pre-recorded video aired at the "Eye on Jerusalem" conference held by the Al-Quds International Institute (QII) in Istanbul, Turkey, Khaled Mashal, one of Hamas’s leaders who has been based in Doha, Qatar, since 2012, called for the resumption of suicide attacks against Israel, describing it as "martyrdom operations."
The 35-minute speech was posted on August 29th on Abdulaziz Mucahit's X (formerly known as Twitter) account, an Al-Jazeera Mubasher Senior Correspondent based in Turkey.
"Today – not even tomorrow – we should make the decision to become practically engaged in the Al-Aqsa Flood, in the practical jihadi and military sense,” Mashal said, referring to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which is how Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups describe the October 7 attacks against Israel that left 1,200 Israelis dead and took hundreds hostage.
Senior Hamas leader Khalid Mashal calls on Palestinian men women and children to strap explosives to themselves and blow themselves up anywhere there is a Jew
When will this death cult simply fuck off and leave Jews, Palestinians and the wider world alone pic.twitter.com/6lEtYYQi0A— Drew Pavlou(@DrewPavlou) August 30, 2024
"Today, in the West Bank, within the 1948 borders, and in the diaspora, the escalation of this conflict is required. Today, in the West Bank, we have seen some successful early signs of martyrdom operations. We want to go back to the martyrdom operations. This necessitates an all-out conflict. They are fighting us in an all-out conflict, and we should face them with an all-out conflict,” Mashal added.
Mashal also urged Palestinians living in the West Bank and within Israel’s 1948 borders to reignite the spirit and engage in “martyrdom operations.”
"We should unleash all forms of resistance, and first and foremost, the martyrdom operations. We should engage in these operations. We should have an all-out confrontation. We should reignite this spirit in the West Bank and the 1948 borders. Otherwise, Israel will fight us piece by piece,” the Hamas leader said.
You mean this isn’t about land?
— Suzi Loves Spain (@suzilovesspain) August 31, 2024
He also addressed student leaders in Arab and Islamic countries and in Western and Eastern countries to reinvigorate the Palestinian student movement, adding that they should be proud of themselves.
"In a few days, the academic year will start again at the universities worldwide. I call upon the student leaders in our Arab and Islamic countries, as well as in the East and the West, to renew the student movement in the broadest scope, in order to stop this criminal aggression. You should be proud of yourselves, oh youths of our nation and the free people of the world.” Mashal said.
Mashal’s speech sparked criticism from several Arab journalists.
"It appears that Khaled Mashal, who is calling for the resumption of suicide operations, feels shame and jealousy since Yahya Sinwar beat him to sacrificing the Palestinian people and their cause. If you want suicide operations, start with yourself. You should be the role model and the example, and not uttering slogans from fancy hotels [in Qatar] while placing your nation in the mouth of the dragon." Simon Abou Fadel, a Lebanese journalist and editor-in-chief of the Al-Kalimah news website, posted on his X account.
Head of the Hamas Women's Movement on TV claims that after introducing Gazan children to Jihad from Infancy, all Palestinian girls want to sacrifice themselves in terror attacks against Jews. She praises minor girls for this desire to sacrifice themselves.pic.twitter.com/7D3tZBIfjJ
— Liza Rosen (@LizaRosen0000) October 24, 2023
"Khaled Mashal is calling for the return of suicide operations. The extremist Hamas movement is going back to its roots. There must be an official Arab voice declaring this movement a criminal [organization]." Ayman Khaled, a Palestinian journalist, wrote on his X account.
Before his post criticizing Mashal, Khaled shared a short video on X saying: "Hamas has declared mobilization in the [West] Bank. Our message to it is: The weapons in the West Bank will not liberate Jerusalem – they will only turn [the West Bank] into a second Gaza."
"Hamas will destroy the Palestinian cause. With its stupidity and its operations as an agent [of Iran], it has given the Zionists an excuse to ethnically cleanse and destroy Gaza. It is now giving them the same excuse in the West Bank. By calling for suicide operations, Khaled Mashal will give the Zionists an excuse to get rid of the Arabs of 1948. Oh, Khaled Mashal, if you believe in suicide operations, start with your sons so that they can reach Paradise before you do." Muhammad Al-Quaiz, a Saudi journalist and songwriter, wrote on X.
Hamas official Khaled Mashaal calls for Palestinians to begin carrying out suicide attack, with the message removed from YouTube for inciting to terrorism
'Hamas is trying in every way to try and export their activity against Israel,' @ariel_oseran says
With @theemilyfrances pic.twitter.com/L26FJBQhua— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) August 29, 2024
In another post, Al-Quaiz said, “Stop Hamas and its stupid acts. Otherwise, we will be saying, 'May Allah have mercy on the Palestinian cause' [because it will have been destroyed].”
