Analysis: Hamas published a second manifesto presenting its version of the October 7 attack
By Bernie,
Analysis: Hamas published a second manifesto presenting its version of the October 7 attack, titled "Our Narrative... Al-Aqsa Flood: Two Years of Steadfastness and the Will for Liberation." The 42-page document frames the attack as a historic and legitimate operation and portrays it as a turning point in Palestinian history rather than a single military event.
The text is structured into eight chapters covering Hamas's stated motivations, a summary of October 7, its account of the war in Gaza, and what it describes as political and diplomatic activity since the attack. Throughout the document, Hamas repeats claims that it does not target civilians and rejects allegations of civilian killings, sexual violence, or hostage abuse, without addressing specific incidents documented by Israel and international media.
The document reiterates Hamas's longstanding political demands, including the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of Palestinian refugees. It also stresses that governance of Gaza should remain a Palestinian matter without external oversight, language that signals opposition to international trusteeship arrangements proposed as part of postwar plans for the territory.
Notably, the manifesto avoids any commitment to disarm and emphasizes what it calls the right to continued armed resistance. This positioning aligns with Hamas's repeated insistence that it remain a political and military actor in Gaza, even amid ceasefire negotiations.
A similar Hamas document released in early 2024 circulated widely online and on university campuses in the United States and Europe. The new publication follows the same narrative framework and timing, appearing as international mediators push for progress toward the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire. The document underscores Hamas's intent to shape international perception of the war and to signal resistance to arrangements that would remove it from power or dismantle its military capabilities.
Topics: Gaza, Diplomacy
Reported by Bernie for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.