Hamas affirmed its rejection of Israeli plans for the future of Gaza following the war on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. It emphasized that the Palestinian people will determine their own future, responding to statements made by Israeli National Security Advisor Tzahi Hanegbi. Hanegbi claimed that an alternative to Hamas’ rule in Gaza would soon emerge.
In its statement, Hamas criticized Hanegbi’s remarks regarding “the day after the criminal war on Gaza, the political future of our Palestinian people, and his announcement of plans being discussed by his government with the U.S. administration and other parties.”
Hanegbi stated at the Herzliya security conference, “Hamas cannot be eliminated as an idea, and we need an alternative idea, not just to destroy its military capabilities… In the coming days, the policy of this alternative will be revealed,” without providing details.
Despite more than 8 months passing since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7 last year, Israel has failed to achieve any of its stated war objectives, particularly the return of Israeli prisoners and the elimination of Hamas’ capabilities.
In its statement, Hamas considered Israel’s plans for Gaza’s future as “insistence by this fascist government on a path of failure and disappointment. These malicious plans will find no way to be implemented in the face of the steadfastness and will of our people.”
Israel’s war, supported by the U.S., on Gaza resulted in approximately 124,000 Palestinians killed or injured, mostly children and women, with over 10,000 missing amid immense destruction and famine that claimed the lives of dozens of children.
For the 18th year, Israel has besieged Gaza, forcing nearly 2 million of its inhabitants, approximately 2.3 million Palestinians, into catastrophic displacement conditions, with severe shortages of food, water, and medicine.
Hamas stressed that “the fate of our Palestinian people and the future of Gaza after repelling this criminal aggression is determined by our Palestinian people alone, and no one else. Its brave resistance will cut off any hand of occupation attempting to meddle in the fate and future of our people.”
Israel continues its war on Gaza, ignoring two UN Security Council resolutions to cease immediately, International Court of Justice orders to end the invasion of Rafah (south), and measures to prevent genocide and improve the dire humanitarian situation in the Strip.
Additionally, Tel Aviv challenges the request of International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan to issue arrest warrants against its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant for their responsibility for “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in Gaza.