Hamas’s Hamad Promises Further ‘al-Aqsa Floods’ (in Context)

Below is a partial translation/transcript of Hamas political official Ghazi Hamad’s October 24, 2023, appearance on LBCI program “Nharkom Said” (Have a Happy Day), with host Nada Andraos. I’ve translated the segment in which Hamad promised there would be a “a second, a third, a fourth” al-Aqsa Flood, from 18:45 to 20:31.

Hamad’s remarks featured (stripped of context) in Western news reporting following October 7. They were subsequently referenced by President Biden (for example, see below) to justify his support for Israel’s maximalist war aims in Gaza and his rejection of a ceasefire that left Hamas in control of the territory.

I had been interested in tracking down Hamad’s original remarks to get a sense of the relevant context, but I only just managed to find the link to the “Nharkom Said” episode.

You’ll see from the partial transcript below that Hamad does promise further “al-Aqsa Flood”–type attacks, but he also situates October 7 and any future attacks in the context of Israel’s continuing occupation, which he says Palestinians will not just passively endure.

(Please let me know if I’ve mistranslated anything, and I’ll correct.)

Transcript (18:45–20:31)

Andraos: Is this a war to end Israel?

Hamad: Of course–

Andraos: This time? Or another round [of conflict], to improve conditions–

Hamad: It’s one round, but this time it achieved a very advanced qualitative leap.

Andraos: A war that ends with an exchange of captives and the opening of prisons, for thousands of prisoners–

Hamad: That’s among the goals.

Andraos: What about the siege?

Hamad: We have – I’m telling you, that’s among the goals. A main goal was, as I said, shattering the prestige [of Israel] and this arrogance – I’ll tell you something. A little while ago we had been in touch with mediators, whether it was the Qataris, the Egyptians, or the UN. We told them, these things being done in the West Bank and Jerusalem–

Andraos: Before the operation [al-Aqsa Flood]?

Hamad: Before the operation. These provocations, and bringing so-called sacred cows inside the al-Aqsa Mosque, bringing extremist Jews to pray in the mosque grounds, these provocations were near-daily. Also the raids that happened in Jenin and Nablus, and killing people for no reason – we told them, this needs to end. Once, twice, three times [we told them] – we’ll reach a point where things boil over. But unfortunately, [the reception was] cold. We didn’t get [a response] – we got more trouble, they’d go into Hawara, where they might kill people, settlers would come and cut down people’s trees, kill people in cold blood. And we Palestinians were supposed to stay polite and not do anything. So I think this will give them a lesson: next time, if they think [about doing this], then we’ll discipline them. And we’ll discipline them a second and a third time. And Al-Aqsa Flood won’t [just] be the first time. No, there will be a second, a third, a fourth, because we have determination, and we have [our] decision, and we have the means. We’ll fight, we’ll fight. But like I told you, will we pay a price? Yes, and we’re ready for that. And let me tell you clearly: we’re called ‘the people of martyrs.’ And we’re proud of offering up martyrs. And we want to do that for our people–

Andraos: But the greatest proportion of martyrs are women, children, the elderly…

Hamad: We’re looking for a good life for our Palestinian people, like all the peoples of the world. We’re no different than other people…