Hamas Leader Denies Responsibility for Civilian Deaths in Israel

In an interview with the BBC, senior Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk denied that his group killed civilians in Israel during the recent conflict. He claimed that only conscripted soldiers were targeted and that women, children, and civilians were exempt from their attacks. However, this contradicts the numerous videos that show Hamas members shooting unarmed adults and children. According to Israel, over 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed by Hamas in the attacks. Marzouk, who is subject to an asset freeze in the UK under counter-terrorism regulations, is the highest-ranking Hamas member to speak to the BBC since the attacks. When questioned about the hostages held by Hamas, Marzouk said they could only be released if the fighting stopped. He recently traveled to Moscow to discuss the case of eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens kidnapped by Hamas, but claimed they couldn't be released due to the conflict. The BBC challenged him on the videos that show Hamas fighters shooting unarmed civilians, but Marzouk did not directly answer the question. He also stated that the political wing of Hamas does not need to consult with the armed wing, which often presents itself as separate from the political leadership. The UK government views Hamas as a single terrorist organization and has proscribed its political wing. Marzouk is also listed as a global terrorist by the US Treasury Department and faces charges related to coordinating and financing Hamas activities. The interview took place after Israel rejected US requests for a humanitarian pause in Gaza to assist with aid and the release of the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on the release of all hostages before agreeing to a temporary truce. Marzouk claimed that Hamas does not have a comprehensive list of the hostages and that many are being held by different factions. He insisted that compiling this information would require a ceasefire. Marzouk is expected to play a significant role in negotiations over the hostages and the resolution of the conflict with Israel.