Abbas’ advisor: Had Israel not existed, Palestinians wouldn’t have suffered now
Saudi Al-Arabiya TV host: “What is your opinion about TheNew York Times article and the survey that appears in it, according to which the Gaza Strip residents accuse the Hamas Movement for the situation from which they are suffering today (i.e., the 2023 Gaza war; see note below)?”
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash: “For the sake of fairness, we must first of all accuse the Israeli occupation. If not for the Israeli occupation’s existence, we would not all be in this difficult situation. It is true that Hamas bears a great part of the responsibility for the situation that the Palestinian cause is in, not just due to the war but because of what it did in 2007, 17 years ago, when it carried out a coup against the PA. ...
Host: “According to what The New York Times said, there are residents in the Gaza Strip who accuse Hamas of starting a destructive war that today has destroyed the Gaza Strip…
Mahmoud Al-Habbash: “Even if that’s true, we must not forget to first and foremost accuse the Israeli occupation… The action (i.e., Hamas’ massacre on Oct. 7, 2023) could be legitimate and desirable, but if its consequences are illegitimate and cause damage - Even in terms of Shari’ah [law], legal experts said that based on the principle of consequences that if the action is lawful but its consequences cause damage, the action itself (i.e., Hamas’ terror war) is unlawful.”
[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Facebook page, June 15, 2024]
Mahmoud Al-Habbash also serves as PA Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice.