Gaza Activist Demands Hamas Disband, Labels October 7 Attack a “Sin”
A Gaza activist and former Palestinian Islamic Jihad official has publicly denounced Hamas, calling its October 7 attack a “sin” and demanding the group disband for its failures in leadership and governance. His remarks reveal deep frustration among Gazans, who feel abandoned by Hamas’s reckless actions and rhetoric.
In a rare and scathing critique from within Gaza, Jamil Abdul-Nabi, a political activist and former Palestinian Islamic Jihad official, has called for the complete dissolution of Hamas, blaming the group for the catastrophic fallout from its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Speaking on Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya Network, Abdul-Nabi accused Hamas of failing in resistance, governance, and warfare, asserting that the group must “pay for its sins” by exiting the Palestinian political landscape entirely. His remarks reflect a growing disillusionment among Gazans, who have borne the brunt of the war’s devastating consequences.
Abdul-Nabi, who once shared a prison cell with Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad, described widespread anti-Hamas sentiment in Gaza. “I’m not exaggerating when I say that throughout the Gaza Strip, not even one of every 100 – or even 1000 – people I come across are supporting Hamas now,” he stated. “The position of people in the Gaza Strip is much more anti-Hamas than what Hamas believes, because they are the ones who have paid the real price.” He dismissed Hamas’s rhetoric as “a joke” among locals, adding, “Every statement by Hamas leaders turns into joke material here. Their insistence on doubling down makes us feel that our tears mean nothing to this movement. We are zero to them.”
Labeling the October 7 attack a “sin,” Abdul-Nabi criticized its impulsive nature, saying, “Resistance should not be driven by emotions. It should not be impulsive or vengeful… Reckless resistance can lead us to disaster, and this is what happened on October 7.” He argued that Hamas’s lack of clear political objectives led to “the destruction of our people,” urging the group to express regret and disband. “Apology is not enough. Hamas needs to bear the responsibility and pay for its sin… The price cannot be anything less than the disappearance of Hamas from the Palestinian scene,” he declared.
Abdul-Nabi further condemned Hamas’s leadership as unfit, stating, “People who fail need to step down. Hamas failed in resistance, failed in governance, failed in war, and failed in everything.” He singled out Ghazi Hamad’s cavalier remarks about Palestinian casualties, questioning, “What is this? How can he be so cavalier when talking about people’s lives? Is he talking about a handful of dollars?” Abdul-Nabi insisted that Palestinians deserve accountability, saying, “It is inconceivable that a tragedy like this will pass, and we will not have the right to call to account the people who brought this tragedy upon us.” While acknowledging political challenges, he maintained that Hamas must step aside, as it “has failed in leading the Palestinian cause, failed in leading the resistance, failed in governing [Gaza], failed in everything.”
This bold condemnation highlights a rare voice of dissent within Gaza, reflecting the frustration of a population grappling with the war’s toll. Abdul-Nabi’s call for accountability, while not addressing Israel directly, underscores the internal reckoning facing Palestinian leadership amid ongoing conflict.