In a recent revelation, senior figures from Hamas have openly declared their intent to perpetuate an unending conflict with Israel, with the aim of bolstering the Palestinian cause.
This comes alongside a stark disinterest in governing the Gaza Strip or enhancing the living conditions of its two million inhabitants, most of whom exist in severe poverty, as per media reports.
Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas' top leadership, defended the organization's unexpected multi-faceted attack on Israeli civilians on October 7 in a series of interviews with the New York Times. This assault prompted a military response from Israel.
"We succeeded in putting the Palestinian issue back on the table, and now no one in the region is experiencing calm," al-Hayya stated from Qatar.
The report also highlighted that the senior leadership of Hamas showed little inclination towards governing Gaza or providing essential services to its citizens.
Taher El-Nounou, a media advisor for Hamas, expressed his hope for a perpetual state of war with Israel, with the backing of the Arab world. He clarified that their objective is "not to run Gaza and to bring it water and electricity and such."
"Hamas, the Qassam and the resistance woke the world up from its deep sleep and showed that this issue must remain on the table," El-Nounou said. "This battle was not because we wanted fuel or laborers. It did not seek to improve the situation in Gaza. This battle is to completely overthrow the situation."
In response to the Hamas attack a month ago, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched continuous airstrikes, resulting in thousands of casualties in Gaza. Israeli officials have declined to negotiate a ceasefire until hostages taken by Hamas are returned.
While the residents of Gaza grapple with poverty, it appears that the top leaders of Hamas are enjoying a luxurious lifestyle.
Israeli officials claim that these leaders are accumulating a staggering amount of terror funds, amounting to billions of dollars.
Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at The Foundation For Defense of Democracies, expressed his shock at the enormous sums of money amassed by these terror chiefs. "It's just really the numbers that are shocking, looking at the sheer amount of money that some of these terror chiefs have been able to sock away," he told Fox News.
Hamas leaders Khaled Mashaal and Ismail Haniyeh are estimated to be worth $4 billion each, while political bureau leader Mousa Abu Marzouk is worth $3 billion. The organization itself is believed to generate over $1 billion annually from a global network that includes cryptocurrency, real estate, legitimate businesses, and taxing and extorting Gaza residents.
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