Hamas international relations chief said the terrorist group’s plan was never to target civilians when its forces invaded Israel on October 7.
Instead he expressed surprise at the human toll exacted by the invading forces as they embarked on mass rape, torture, kidnapping, and slaughter of Israeli innocents.
“The chief commander of the Al Qassem Brigade, who initiated the operation, he gave clear instructions not to target civilians or not to harm civilians,” Dr Basem Naim told Australia’s ABC 7.30 report during an interview.
“In the middle of the confrontation, there was some civilians. The clear instruction was not to kill civilians.”
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The Hamas terrorist spokesman also claimed there were no plans to take civilian hostages, alluding instead to mysterious forces that had somehow taken over the operation.
“We haven’t planned at any moment to take any civilian hostages. The plan was to take on the fight against soldiers and to take some soldiers as hostages.
An estimated 1,200 Israelis have been brutally slaughtered since the Hamas assault began. Israel said 289 of its soldiers have been killed.
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The number of U.S. citizens murdered has risen to 30 while 13 remain unaccounted for.
Pressed on whether he was claiming the terrorist group had lost control of its fighters to drive those fatalities so high, Dr Naim told 7.30 others had infiltrated the Hamas operation.
“There are other Palestinian groups who became part of the operation, even ordinary people when they see the prison around Gaza Strip was broken, and the siege was open,” he said.
Dr Naim asserted Hamas is taking care of the civilian hostages and will release them once hostilities cease.
“We are caring for them based on our moral obligations. But at the moment the aggression is stopped, we are ready to release all of them, including all foreigners,” he said.
An Israeli solider stands at the grounds of the Supernova electronic music festival after Saturday’s deadly attack by Islamist Hamas terrorists where 260 people died and more than 100 people were taken hostage, according to the ZAKA rescue agency. (Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty)
Medics receive a wounded soldier at the emergency entrance to the Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv following a Hamas massed attack on Israel. (Getty)
The terrorist operative made his claims despite a manual reportedly used by Palestinian Hamas terrorists being discovered by first responders in a Toyota pickup truck used in the attack on Israel, as Breitbart News reported.
Dating to October 2022, the “operational document” includes plans for a raid on Israeli towns near Gaza, including details about breaching the border fence, and about expected Israeli defenses.
The plan also called for taking “prisoner soldiers, residents, and … hostages for negotiations.” The plan was circulated last Thursday by “South First Responders” on Telegram.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated to reflect a revised number on the death toll from the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel. The Israeli government estimate of 1,400 was revised to around 1,200, according to Reuters.