In an exclusive interview with Reuters on October 5, Khaled Meshaal, the exiled Hamas leader, shared his steadfast belief that the organization will “rise from the ashes like a phoenix,” despite the heavy toll taken during the year-long conflict with Israel. He indicated that Hamas is still actively recruiting fighters and manufacturing weapons.
At 68, Meshaal remains a key figure within Hamas, working under the leadership of Ismail Haniyeh, the movement’s supreme commander. His history is marked by resilience; he survived an assassination attempt by Israel in 1997 that involved a poison injection. From 1996 to 2017, he served as the overall leader of Hamas, a role that solidified his influence and made him the group’s diplomatic representative.
During the interview, Meshaal insisted that Hamas is capable of launching attacks against Israel. Notably, on the anniversary of the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, the group fired four missiles at southern Israel, all of which were intercepted.
While he acknowledged that the ongoing war has diminished some of Hamas’s military resources, Meshaal revealed that the organization is actively recruiting young individuals and continues to produce substantial quantities of ammunition and weaponry, though he refrained from providing specific figures.
Furthermore, Meshaal expressed doubt regarding the likelihood of peace under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s administration, asserting, “As long as the occupation exists, this region remains a ticking time bomb.”
Analysts in the Middle East interpret his remarks as conveying a message of persistence; despite setbacks, Hamas is committed to its ongoing struggle.
As the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks approaches, cities across Europe are witnessing stark divisions, with pro-Palestinian protests occurring alongside demonstrations honoring the victims of those attacks. European media commentators suggest that this situation could fuel extreme left and right voting blocs, complicating the decision-making processes within the European Union.
Since the conflict erupted, both Jewish and Muslim immigrants in European nations have reported experiencing heightened discrimination. A recent survey by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), released in July, indicated that 96% of over 8,000 Jews from 13 EU member states have sensed an increase in anti-Semitism in their daily lives since October of the previous year. Meanwhile, Muslims in Europe often find themselves unfairly linked to Hamas’s actions and are frequently viewed through the lens of terrorism.
