Palestinian Activist: Hamas Has No Interest In Peoples’ Needs

Bassem Eid, a political commentator and Palestinian human rights activist who has been working in the field for over 26 years stated through an Israeli-based TV station that Hamas is completely overlooking the needs of the people of Gaza in order to pursue its political interests.

In an opinion article that he published, Eid wrote that the majority of Palestinians had in fact opposed the firing of rockets against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Ever since the conflict with Israel started on July 8th, over 1,900 Palestinians have been killed, most of them being civilians. There have been proposals for ceasefire between the two parties at the talks based in Egypt. However, Eid wrote that, "The Palestinians have understood that these rockets will achieve nothing. Palestinians have called on Hamas to stop firing on Israel and to try to negotiate with the Israeli occupation. But Hamas has never considered Palestinian needs - only its own political interests."

The IDF announced that their Iron Dome Missile Defense system has begun to target what they believe to be terror tunnels and other targets they believe will be a direct threat to their people. The Palestinian activist stated that Israel will surely be the destruction of the Gaza Strip. He added while both sides of the conflict are hurting, neither side is willing to acknowledge their opponent's pain.

Eid goes on to say: "The residents of the Gaza Strip had the responsibility to rebel against Hamas rule. Yes, Hamas' control is deadly and people have been afraid to express their dissatisfaction with its rule and mismanagement. And yet, we abdicated our own responsibility to ourselves."

Then what would be the best solution to settle the conflict? Eid expressed that a tri-lateral initiative that includes Egypt, Israel and the Palestinians will be a good way to find a settlement. However, IDF insiders have recommenced rocket fire against Gaza while asserting that Hamas had opened fire before the truce was supposed to end.

Meanwhile, the IDF made it clear that there will be no further negotiations with Hamas until they cease firing rockets.