Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida called for escalation on all fronts, including the West Bank and Jordan, to mark 200 days of the Israel-Hamas war that erupted on October 7th.
The conflict, which Hamas initiated with a massive assault on southern Israel, resulted in nearly 1,200 fatalities, primarily civilians, and the seizure of 253 hostages. In response, Israel launched an aerial and ground offensive on Gaza, aiming to eliminate Hamas and alleviate its oppressive rule.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry asserts that over 34,000 Palestinians have perished since October 7th, although this statistic lacks independent verification and does not separate between civilians and combatants. Israel maintains that approximately 13,000 Hamas militants have been eliminated in battle and that 1,000 additional terrorists were eliminated in Israel on October 7th.
In his speech, Abu Obeida expressed admiration for Iran’s April 13th strike on Israel, claiming that the direct strikes with hundreds of explosive drones and missiles “set new rules, drew important equations, and confused the enemy and those behind it.” He demanded escalation in the West Bank and Jordan, which he characterized as “one of the most critical Arab fronts.” Jordan, situated between Iran and Israel, recently intercepted and destroyed several Iranian drones attempting to enter Israeli airspace, according to regional security sources.
Abu Obeida urged the Jordanian people to step up their efforts and make their voices heard. He reiterated Hamas’s stance in the ongoing ceasefire talks, demanding that Israel end its military offensive, withdraw its forces from Gaza, permit the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, and lift the military blockade.
He accused the Israeli government of stalling the hostage exchange negotiations and obstructing mediator efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement. Qatar and Egypt have been mediating a truce that would include the release of Israeli hostages, but Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, stated earlier on Tuesday that all parties involved must “show seriousness” for such efforts to succeed.
Israel has rejected Hamas’s conditions for ending the conflict. While Washington acknowledges Israel’s agreement to some concessions in the negotiations, it criticizes Hamas’s refusal to compromise on its demands.
Abu Obeida’s comments come as the Gulf state of Qatar maintains that it has no plans to demand the departure of Hamas leaders currently residing in the country. “As we have always stated, their presence here in Doha is beneficial and contributes to the mediation efforts. They will remain as long as this is the case,” al-Ansari said at a press conference.
Despite ongoing negotiations, reports have emerged in recent days suggesting that Hamas’s political leaders are considering relocating their operations outside of Qatar, with Oman being a potential destination. The Wall Street Journal has noted that a departure of Hamas leaders from Doha could complicate negotiations with the group. Notably, Qatar has hosted Hamas’s politburo leaders since 2012.
