WANA exclusive interview with Khaled Qaddoumi, Hamas representative in Tehran.

PART ONE

WANA (Nov 27) – The current situation in Gaza has become more devastating as the humanitarian cost of the war and the catastrophic damage to the infrastructure of the city become more severe and alarming.

This has galvanized public opinion and has turned to widespread antagonism against the Israeli atrocity in Palestine, encouraging regional mediators to engage to alleviate the suffering of the people diplomatically.

The temporary ceasefire agreement, started on Friday, 24th November, and mediated by primarily Qatar and Egypt, had the aim to temporarily halt the war for the sake of delivering more humanitarian aid to Gaza as well as to exchange hostages.

Under the Israel-Hamas deal, Hamas agreed to release 50 women and children under the age of 19. Israel, in return, would free 150 Palestinian women and teenagers who were kept in Israeli detention, some of them for years and decades.

As the two sides of the conflict agreed to a temporary ceasefire, the issue of extending the truce beyond the four days remains open. Although the process of swapping prisoners is being held in different stages, Hamas leaders are critically concerned regarding the flow of the process. We have, therefore, spoken with Khaled Qaddoumi, the Hamas representative in Tehran, to discuss the ongoing process of ceasefire, the role of third parties, and the future of the conflict.

Qaddoumi begins by expressing pessimism and regret about the prospect of the Israelis upholding their pledged promises under the ceasefire agreement. Condemning the Israeli “rude” behaviors with the prisoners by moving them to isolationist confinement, forcing them to sign papers without their advocates accompanying them, and threatening them to be the target of future attacks or to be detained again.

Qaddoumi also showed dissatisfaction regarding the current humanitarian aid process to Gaza, expecting more truckloads of aid to enter the city. Calling the mediators to take care of these issues, Qaddoumi hoped to conclude the remaining days better for the Palestinians.

Hamas representative in Tehran urged the ceasefire to extend and last longer, hoping to receive more humanitarian aid. “It is in the interest of the common man of the street” that the war pauses for more days, he says, asking the international community to think of possible ways to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Qaddoumi then answered a question regarding the future of the war_ Which side will be the winner of this battle? He boldly names the Palestinian people as the sole winner of this war. “It is the steadfastness of the people who are continuously being slaughtered and strained by the Israeli barbaric attacks that will fruit liberation and independence for them,” he dauntlessly stated.

Qaddoumi responds to the blame and criticism that has been targeted at Hamas from the starting day of the war on 7th October. Referring to three major points, he first denounces Netanyahu government for their committed war crimes across Gaza, calling them responsible of the mass killing of the innocent Palestinians. “Hamas was ready to swap prisoners from day one, yet Netanyahu opposed such a peaceful settlement and preferred to free the prisoners by getting involved in a war.

Qaddoumi further mentioned the fabricated lies and stories that Israel had perpetuated from the beginning of the conflict. In his belief, Today’s Israeli newspapers and media outlets inside this entity prove that many narratives and stories that were distributed just after Hamas’ 7th October attack were lies and fabricated. “Thousands of Israeli people that were killed on 7th October were because of direct killing by the Israeli helicopters and fighters,” he mentions.

Finally, referring to the illegal establishment of an Israeli entity in 1948 based on invented and fake stories, he concludes that with the encouragement of the United States, the same policy still persists in today’s Israeli political system.

Qaddoumi ends his remarks by stating the will of the whole Palestinian population to live peacefully and freely in the land, “but not at the sacrifice and expense of our legitimate right…”