Hamas: ‘Meshaal statements about giving up control of Gaza are false’

Hamas announced on Thursday evening that statements attributed to the movement’s leader abroad, Khaled Meshaal, regarding giving up control of the Gaza Strip are “false”.

The movement shared in a statement on its Telegram channel: “The false remarks attributed to our mujahid brother Khaled Meshaal, head of the Hamas movement abroad, did not come from him and are merely rumours spread by parties hostile to the movement and the resistance.”

The movement stressed that official statements and announcements are published on Hamas’s official channel.

In the statement attributed to Meshaal, denied by the movement, he allegedly stated: “In response to the people’s desire and to stop the bloodshed, we have decided to give up control of Gaza in a way that serves the interests of our people and alleviates their suffering.”

Palestinians protested against Hamas in northern Gaza on Tuesday, in what appeared to be the largest protest against the armed movement since its attacks on Israel on 7 October, 2023.

Hundreds of demonstrators also took to the streets in Beit Lahia in the Gaza Strip, demanding that Hamas “leave” Gaza and stop the war.

READ: When will Gaza’s residents revolt against Hamas?

Footage showed demonstrators chanting slogans including “We don’t want Hamas or Islamic Jihad, we want to protect the country” and “Out, out, Hamas get out.”

The Hamas Government Media Office in Gaza commented on the demonstrations, remarking that the slogans opposing the movement raised in protests against it on Tuesday were spontaneous and did not reflect the general national position.

The office added in a statement on Wednesday: “Any spontaneous slogans or positions expressed by some demonstrators against the resistance’s approach do not express the general national position. Rather, they are the result of the unprecedented pressure our people are under and the occupation’s ongoing attempts to incite internal strife and divert attention from its ongoing crimes.”

“Given the continued Israeli aggression and targeting of civilians, this could cause widespread anger and popular resentment, which is only natural in light of these ongoing crimes,” it added.