Middle East crisis — explained NPR npr.org by Aya Batrawy August 16, 2024 Abu Bakr Bashir contributed reporting from London
DOHA, Qatar — A Hamas leader says they will give up governing Gaza but won’t lay down arms
Extracts:
Hamas survives assassinations
Basem Naim, a leader in Hamas’ politburo, met with NPR on July 13 in Hamas’ office, in a villa in the suburbs of Qatar’s capital, Doha
The group’s presence there is part of a long-standing arrangement backed by the United States to keep a channel of communication open through Qatar as a mediator
The United States, European Union and Israel label Hamas a terrorist group
Two weeks after Naim spoke with NPR, Hamas’ top leader based in Qatar, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated during a visit to Iran
The killing of a top Hamas leader brings new uncertainties about cease-fire talks Israel informed the US it was behind his killing, a US official told NPR on condition of anonymity! in order to discuss details of the sensitive operation
Hamas chose Yahya Sinwar, the group’s Gaza chief thought to have directed the October 7 attack, as Haniyeh’s successor It was seen as a message of defiance to Israel and the US which has supported Israel with weapons throughout the war
As part of Hamas’ top political leadership, Naim could also be targeted
Israel has vowed a worldwide manhunt to kill Hamas leaders Hamas says assassinations only harden support for the group, giving figures like Haniyeh the badge of martyrdom among supporters
Founded as an Islamist Palestinian movement in 1987 Hamas has been governing Gaza since seizing control in 2007 and has fought multiple wars with Israel since then. The group has survived decades of high-profile killings
“Hamas is a Palestinian national movement working for and struggling for the liberation of Palestine” Naim says “It is an institution. It is not a one-man show."
Hamas remains defiant even as it acknowledges losses
