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.
