GAZA, Palestine: Khaled Mashaal, the former leader of Hamas, in his address Monday, characterized the ongoing violence in Gaza as a “holocaust.”
He stated that the attacks initiated by Hamas on October 7 were a response to the closing of all political avenues, which he believes has yielded “strategic results” for the group. Mashaal expressed gratitude towards Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran for their support, and called on Arab nations to provide financial assistance to Gaza.
According to Arab News, Mashaal claimed that following its inability to achieve its objectives in Gaza, Israel opened a new front in Lebanon, engaging in ongoing battle with Hezbollah. Despite acknowledging Israel’s military accomplishments against Iranian forces and Hezbollah, Mashaal asserted that Israel is ultimately “defeated.” He urged the people of Gaza to remain hopeful, promising that victory is on the horizon.
The toll of the conflict has been staggering, with over 40,000 lives lost in Gaza, including more than 10,000 children, due to what many describe as indiscriminate Israeli military actions in retaliation for the 1,200 Israeli casualties from the October 7 attacks.
Mahmoud Al-Habash, an advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, dismissed Mashaal’s speech as “empty slogans” and advocated for unity with the Palestinian Authority as a path to real victory.
As international outrage grows, demonstrations have erupted worldwide against Israeli military operations, with protesters labeling the situation in Gaza as “genocide” and urging global action to halt the violence.
Protests have emerged across the Middle East, Europe, the United States, India, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia, highlighting the widespread condemnation of the ongoing conflict.
