Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, defended its October 7 attack on Israel as a “necessary step” against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
The group acknowledged some “faults” during the assault, attributing them to the rapid collapse of the Israeli security and military system.
In a 16-page report, the first of its kind released in English and Arabic, Hamas detailed the circumstances surrounding the attack when Hamas militants breached Gaza’s militarized border.
The assault resulted in approximately 1,140 deaths, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Hamas characterized the attacks as “a necessary step and a normal response to confront all Israeli conspiracies against the Palestinian people.”
During the incident, around 250 hostages were seized, and while Israel reports about 132 remaining in Gaza, at least 27 captives are believed to have been killed, according to AFP.
Israel’s subsequent bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza have led to a reported death toll of at least 25,105 people, primarily women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Hamas called for the immediate cessation of Israeli aggression on Gaza and rejected international and Israeli efforts to determine Gaza’s post-war future.
The group stressed the Palestinian people’s right to decide their own fate and internal affairs, asserting that no external party had the authority to make decisions on their behalf.
“We stress that the Palestinian people have the capacity to decide their future and to arrange their internal affairs,” the statement said, adding that “no party in the world” had the right to decide on their behalf.
