Palestinian leaders believe that the conflict initiated by Israel in Gaza was premeditated, with motivations rooted in revenge against the Gazan population. They highlight the intense targeting of unarmed civilians and the repeated obstruction of diplomatic efforts, including the violation of the only ceasefire achieved during the conflict on January 19.
They asserted that, contrary to claims of retaliation for the October 7 attack aimed at Hamas and its military assets, the actions of Israel affected all Palestinians in Gaza.
Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Wasil Abu Yusuf, stated that the extreme government of Benjamin Netanyahu took advantage of the situation in Gaza following the October 7 assault to launch a brutal war, focusing its attacks on displaced individuals through heavy bombardments, blockades, and starvation. He emphasized, “Israeli elections were looming, and these campaigns typically involve Palestinian bloodshed.”
Abu Yusuf confirmed in statements to *Al-Bayan* that Palestinian leadership recognized from the outset that this war would be extensive and prolonged, given the Israeli military’s disregard for the lives of innocent civilians in Gaza and the severity of the airstrikes witnessed, especially in the early days of the conflict.
He pointed out that Israel, rather than merely targeting Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 incident, attacked the entire Palestinian population in Gaza. He questioned the justification behind bombarding occupied homes, attacking safe havens in tents, and reducing schools, mosques, and hospitals to rubble. He added that the majority of the casualties, exceeding 67,000, were children, women, the sick, and the elderly, providing compelling evidence that Israel targeted civilians and relentlessly spilled Palestinian blood, which has resulted in international isolation due to its actions in Gaza.
Abu Yusuf praised the political efforts and international forums that have supported the Palestinian people enduring this brutal war, insisting that although the conflict may drag on, it will ultimately come to an end. Gaza, already suffering from a blockade lasting over 17 years, now finds itself engulfed in a devastating war, putting the entire region on the brink of a broader conflict.
In this context, Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative Party, expressed that the people of Gaza have faced extraordinarily challenging times, which have been unprecedented during the years of conflict. However, the surge of international support for their cause, demonstrated through a series of recognitions of the State of Palestine and the rights of its people, has confused and isolated Israel amid its actions against the displaced groups in Gaza.
He noted in a discussion with *Al-Bayan*: “The people in Gaza have not experienced rest or security for two years, with ongoing fierce bombings, airstrike assaults, drone activity, and heavy artillery fire. What has transpired in Gaza is unprecedented compared to the events of the 1948 Nakba, especially regarding the rapid onset of famine, the repetition of displacement scenes, and the terrifying, unprecedented horrors faced.”
He continued: “The people of Gaza have paid the price for their decision to remain in their homeland and oppose displacement plans, as homes were demolished above them while they faced hunger and fear. Today, they await a miracle to put an end to the war.”