In an exclusive interview with Reuters on October 5th, Khaled Meshaal, the exiled leader of Hamas, spoke about the organization’s resilience in the face of substantial losses during its year-long conflict with Israel. He confidently stated that Hamas will “rise from the ashes like a phoenix,” highlighting the group’s persistent efforts to recruit fighters and manufacture weapons.
At 68, Meshaal is a central figure in Hamas, currently operating under Ismail Haniyeh’s leadership. His extensive experience includes surviving an assassination attempt by Israel in 1997, during which he was poisoned. Leading Hamas from 1996 to 2017, he is recognized as a significant diplomatic representative of the organization.
Meshaal emphasized that Hamas remains capable of launching attacks against Israel. On the anniversary of the conflict, the group fired four missiles into southern Israel, all of which were intercepted.
While he acknowledged that the war has led to some loss of munitions, Meshaal stated that recruitment efforts for young individuals are ongoing, and the production of ammunition and weapons continues, although he did not disclose specific details.
In addressing the current Israeli government under Prime Minister Netanyahu, he expressed doubt about any potential for peace, remarking, “As long as the Israeli occupation exists, this region remains a ticking time bomb.”
Analysts in the Middle East interpret his remarks as a signal that, despite setbacks, Hamas remains steadfast in its struggle.
As the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Israel approaches, cities across Europe have seen polarizing protests, with crowds both supporting Palestine and commemorating the victims of the attacks. Commentators suggest that this division could be fueling far-left and far-right political agendas, complicating decision-making within the European Union.
Since the conflict intensified, Jewish and Muslim immigrants in European countries have reported an uptick in discrimination. A survey released by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in July indicated that 96% of over 8,000 surveyed Jews across 13 EU member states have experienced increased anti-Semitism in their daily lives since October of the previous year. Concurrently, Muslims in Europe often bear the brunt of blame for Hamas’s actions and are frequently associated with terrorism.
