How Will Hamas Handle Musa Abu Marzouk after his Latest Comments?

Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk upon arriving at the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters on February 3, 2025. (EPA)
Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk upon arriving at the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters on February 3, 2025. (EPA)
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How Will Hamas Handle Musa Abu Marzouk after his Latest Comments?

Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk upon arriving at the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters on February 3, 2025. (EPA)
Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk upon arriving at the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters on February 3, 2025. (EPA)

Statements by Musa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and head of its foreign relations office, have sparked widespread debate after his assessment of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and comments about the Palestinian movement’s weapons.

In an interview with The New York Times published on Monday, Abu Marzouk said he would not have supported the Oct. 7 assault on Israel had he known the extent of destruction it would bring to Gaza. He also indicated that Hamas is open to negotiations over the future of its weapons in the enclave.

A Hamas spokesperson said the comments made by Abu Marzouk “do not represent the movement’s position,” stressing that the movement remains committed to its weapons and considers the Oct. 7 attack a “watershed moment in the history of all occupied peoples.”

In a later official statement, Hamas described Abu Marzouk’s remarks as “inaccurate and taken out of context,” adding that the interview was conducted several days earlier and that the published excerpts “failed to reflect the full substance of his responses, distorting their true meaning.”

Sources within Hamas told Asharq Al-Awsat that the movement has decided to limit its response to the statement and is not considering any measures against Abu Marzouk.

Prior to Abu Marzouk’s interview, the group’s leadership had advised senior officials to avoid engaging with international media outlets, citing concerns that their remarks were often manipulated.

Sources did not explain why Abu Marzouk disregarded this guidance.

Observers say his statements suggest possible internal divisions within Hamas on key issues. Others believe they may be an indirect message from the group to Western audiences.

Hamas sources, however, downplayed any pressure on Abu Marzouk to retract his comments.

Abu Marzouk is widely seen as a proponent of diplomacy and engagement with European countries and even the United States.

He has previously stated that he has met with European officials as part of Hamas’ outreach efforts. Analysts suggest he is not closely aligned with the faction that favors stronger ties with Iran and the so-called “Axis of Resistance”.

This is not the first time Abu Marzouk has drawn controversy with his public remarks or leaked conversations.

In January 2016, an audio recording surfaced in which he sharply criticized Iran, questioning its support for Palestinian factions.



Gaza’s Eid al-Fitr Overshadowed by War, Hardship

Children with Eid cookie trays (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Children with Eid cookie trays (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Gaza’s Eid al-Fitr Overshadowed by War, Hardship

Children with Eid cookie trays (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Children with Eid cookie trays (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Residents of Gaza face dire conditions as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr, with Israeli airstrikes continuing and no sign of a ceasefire despite ongoing mediation efforts for a temporary truce during the Eid.

Hopes for a respite have faded as the war drags on, leaving many in Gaza deeply disappointed by the failure of mediators to broker a ceasefire as of the time of writing. The renewed fighting has worsened hardships endured during Ramadan, with residents bracing for further suffering should the conflict persist through Eid.

Ramzi Salah, 39, a resident of Al-Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City, had hoped to spend this Eid free from the relentless Israeli bombardment that has gripped the enclave, spreading fear among civilians.

Instead, he faces a third consecutive holiday—and a second Eid al-Fitr—devoid of joy.

“Our lives have become hell—no peace, no calm, not even the joy of Ramadan or Eid,” Salah told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“What crime have the children committed to be deprived of happiness? Families can't even afford to buy them clothes or gifts.”

Speaking in simple colloquial Arabic, he added: “Most people here are out of work. They can’t even find food, let alone buy new clothes or presents for their kids. Since the war began, we've been living in exceptional circumstances, but children still search for something—anything—to make them happy. And there's nothing.”

Adham Abu Suleiman, a resident of Gaza City’s Al-Nasr neighborhood, said the joy of Eid would always be incomplete as long as Israeli airstrikes continued and casualties mounted. He noted that many had hoped the ceasefire would hold and that war would not return in any form—but those hopes have been shattered.

“How can we celebrate when every family has lost someone dear, whether a loved one or even their home?” he said.

“Holidays and special occasions don’t heal these wounds, but at least spending them without the sound of bombs would make life feel a little better.”

A brief tour of Gaza’s markets revealed a limited supply of old clothes and shoes, with residents making modest purchases. A few sweets were available, but at steep prices.

Shopkeeper Rajab Al-Louh said business had nearly ground to a halt.

“People aren’t really buying—most just come to change their mood, to see what’s available,” he said.

“Sales are almost nonexistent, and we’re barely covering our own expenses,” he added.