Abbas’ advisor to foreign media claims PA condemned massacre on Oct. 7, but says Israel is “the root of the problem”
Spanish W Radio host: “Does the PA condemn Hamas’ attack [on Israel] that took place on Oct. 7 [2023] (i.e., Hamas’ massacre)?”
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash: “Let’s say that Hamas actually made a mistake – does this mistake justify what Israel is doing? … We have condemned and condemn, and [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas] condemned killing and targeting civilians, regardless of their religion or citizenship… We must take care of the root of the crisis, the root of the problem. The root of the problem is the existence of the occupation (i.e., Israel). When the occupation will end, there will be no more hostility, attacks, events, or blood, and peace will prevail between us and the Israelis.
[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Facebook page, Dec. 12, 2023]
Mahmoud Al-Habbash also serves as Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice.
Al-Habbash made this statement on Spanish radio 2 months into Hamas’ war on Israel:
Hamas war on Israel October 2023 - At least 1,200 Israelis, including over 1,000 civilians, were murdered and over 4,800 wounded, in addition to approximately 244 who were abducted into the Gaza Strip (including 110 later released or liberated and at least 26 later killed), in a Hamas terror war that began when approximately 3,000 Hamas terrorists broke through Israel's security fence at the Gaza Strip border and launched a surprise attack, taking control of several Israeli towns and attacking a music festival on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, which fell on the Sabbath, Oct. 7, 2023. During the massacre the terrorists tortured, raped, shot, beheaded, and burned their victims alive, murdering entire families and leaving at least 21 children without parents. Hamas terrorists also fired at least 5,000 rockets at Israeli population centers. In response, Israel launched Operation Iron Swords to counter the Hamas terror threat. Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon joined Hamas' terror war starting from the following day, attacking Israel from the north. Occasional rocket launches and shootings continued from Lebanon throughout the war. A ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal began on Nov. 24, 2023, in which Israel agreed to release 150 terrorist prisoners, pause drone surveillance in the Gaza Strip, and allow movement between the northern and southern Gaza Strip, in return for 50 Israeli female and child hostages held by Hamas. The deal was subsequently extended with additional releases, until Hamas violated the agreement and resumed attacking on Dec. 1, 2023.