Hamas Political Bureau member: The tunnels are for Hamas’ defense and protection, not for civilians. They are “the UN’s responsibility”
The video shows an interview with Hamas Political Bureau member Musa Abu Marzouq in Moscow with RT Arabic (Russia).
RT Arabic interviewer: “Some people hold you [Hamas] responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Gaza Strip, women and children. Some people think that the [Hamas] Movement is morally and politically responsible because it decided to carry out the Oct. 7 attack (i.e., launch of Hamas’ terror war).”
Hamas Political Bureau member Musa Abu Marzouq: “No! The Oct. 7 attack was against military personnel (sic., over 1,000 civilians were murdered)! … They [Israel] are the ones who are targeting civilians morning and night… They are killing women and children… Our responsibility is to liberate our land.”
Interviewer: “Is Hamas not responsible for protecting them? Some people wonder… why someone (i.e., Hamas) who built 500 km. of tunnels didn’t build shelters for civilians to seek refuge in during the bombings?”
Musa Abu Marzouq: “We built the tunnels because we have no means of defending ourselves against [Israeli] killing and targeting. These tunnels are meant to protect us [Hamas] from warplanes. We are fighting from inside the tunnels. As for the Gaza Strip, everyone knows that 75% of its residents are refugees, and it is the UN’s responsibility to protect the refugees.”
[RT Arabic (Russia), Oct. 27, 2023]
Hamas war on Israel October 2023 - At least 1,200 Israelis, including over 1,000 civilians, were murdered and over 4,800 wounded, in addition to approximately 244 who were abducted into the Gaza Strip (including 110 later released or liberated and at least 26 later killed), in a Hamas terror war that began when approximately 3,000 Hamas terrorists broke through Israel's security fence at the Gaza Strip border and launched a surprise attack, taking control of several Israeli towns and attacking a music festival on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, which fell on the Sabbath, Oct. 7, 2023. During the massacre, the terrorists tortured, raped, shot, beheaded, and burned their victims alive, murdering entire families and leaving at least 21 children without parents. Hamas terrorists also fired at least 5,000 rockets at Israeli population centers. In response, Israel launched the Swords of Iron War to counter the Hamas terror threat. Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon joined Hamas' terror war starting from the following day, attacking Israel from the north. Occasional rocket launches and shootings continued from Lebanon throughout the war. A ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal began on Nov. 24, 2023, in which Israel agreed to release 150 terrorist prisoners, pause drone surveillance in the Gaza Strip, and allow movement between the northern and southern Gaza Strip, in return for 50 Israeli female and child hostages held by Hamas. The deal was subsequently extended with additional releases, until Hamas violated the agreement and resumed attacking on Dec. 1, 2023.