What good came of it? That I cannot tell, but ‘twas a famous victory*
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Can’t see ‘em from qatar — gazans return home after their leaders’ triumph
'Go to Hell': Hamas Spox Gets Touchy As Accountability Looms in Arab World
Ed Morrissey, HotAir:
Hamas might have expected a hero's embrace in the Arab world after signing off on the hostage-exchange and ceasefire agreement. They have spent the last two years proclaiming their victory for "Palestine" in the October 7 massacres that started the war, and they have doubled down on that spin since agreeing to Donald Trump's proposal this week.
After two years of destruction -- much of it involving investment from the Arab world in Gaza -- reality could be a bit different. In the cold light of a cease-fire, not even nominally friendly forums are letting Hamas spokespeople off the hook. Hamas co-founder Mousa Abu Marzouk told a Qatari interviewer to "go to hell" and show him some respect for asking the obvious question: What the ever-loving f*** were you idiots thinking on October 7?
To be fair, the Pan-Arab Ghad interviewer put it more politely, but still ...
Abu Marzouk, who lives in Qatar, tried to justify the terror organization’s crimes by saying that Hamas “fulfilled its national duty.” At that point, the journalist asked: “Was what you did on October 7 to lead the Palestinians to liberation?”
Visibly annoyed and embarrassed, Abu Marzouk remained silent and then responded that “no sane person would claim that on October 7, with just a thousand or so fighters, it was possible to liberate Palestine.”
He then demanded from the interviewer: “Please, at least make your questions respectful.”
The journalist calmly continued, “I am asking you the questions that are being asked on the streets of Palestine, by the residents of Gaza.”
At that point, Marzouk lost his temper and began to shout: “These are your questions! Show some respect for yourself. I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to see you. Cut it out. Cut it out. Go to hell!”
“Marzouk had better get used to this question. Those left in Gaza will ask it, especially when Hamas has to step aside for the proposed pan-Arab force that will take control of Gaza at the end of the ceasefire proposal. At that point, the only accomplishments that Hamas can claim will be:
1200 dead Israelis and foreign workers
Tens of thousands of dead Gazans
The destruction of Gaza infrastructure, in the tens of billions of dollars
The presence of the IDF in Gaza
The elimination of Iranian domination
The loss of Syria
The destruction of Hezbollah
At least another decade of miserable poverty in Gaza
“Even other Palestinians have noticed Marzouk's inability to defend Hamas' actions. It's certainly making the rounds in the Arab world, the Jerusalem Post reports:
Commentators in Arab media said that Marzouk's reaction is a sign of tension within the terrorist organization that has grown throughout its war with Israel. According to the commentators, the incident also highlights the widening rift between Hamas leadership and the majority of Arabs.
Fatah spokesman Jamal Nazzal called the exchange “a disgrace that exposes the moral and political bankruptcy of a crumbling group that can no longer look people in the eye.”
FWIW: It’s hard to understand how Palestinians have allowed themselves to be bamboozled and fed on dreams of “revenge” for generations now, while they’ve stayed mired in poverty and the men behind the scenes have grown obscenely rich preventing peace. Yasir “Nobel Prize Winner” Arafat and his PLO mobsters siphoned off billions from international aid funds, and the Hamas founders, including this intemperate fellow Mousa Abu Marzouk reported on above have each stolen billions, living in luxury and safety (well, safe until recently) in Qatar between visits to Paris and NYC. Here’s a summary:
AI Overview
Reports from Israeli, U.S., and other sources indicate that Mousa Abu Marzouk is a billionaire, with his net worth variously estimated between $2 billion and $3 billion
. His wealth is reportedly derived from illicit financial schemes involving fundraising and the siphoning of aid, often conducted through Hamas's financial infrastructure.
How Mousa Abu Marzouk allegedly amassed his wealth
Fundraising and investments: Beginning in the 1990s, while based in the United States, Marzouk organized extensive fundraising campaigns among wealthy Muslims and established multiple banking and financial enterprises. U.S. authorities have indicted him for conspiring to hide financial transactions linked to terrorist funds, but he was ultimately expelled from the country in 1997 without being convicted.
Diverted aid and corruption: According to multiple reports, including investigations by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and The Mideast Journal, Marzouk and other Hamas leaders have siphoned off foreign aid and charity funds intended for Palestinians.
Taxes and smuggling operations: Hamas is reported to generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually through its control of the economy in Gaza. This includes taxing goods, such as vehicles, and cash that are smuggled through tunnels from Egypt. Hamas leaders, including Marzouk, have personally profited from these illicit operations.
Real estate and business schemes: Marzouk has reportedly also profited from other activities, such as seizing and selling land in desirable areas of Gaza. Sources suggest he has investments in financial institutions and real estate projects throughout the Middle East.
The Jerusalem Post details exactly how rich these murderers are, how they accumulated tge loot, and how they keep it:
Hamas's blood-soaked billions: How does the terror group stay rich?
*After Blenheim
It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar's work was done,
And he before his cottage door
Was sitting in the sun,
And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild Wilhelmine.
She saw her brother Peterkin
Roll something large and round,
Which he beside the rivulet
In playing there had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.
Old Kaspar took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by;
And then the old man shook his head,
And, with a natural sigh,
"'Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he,
"Who fell in the great victory.
"I find them in the garden,
For there's many here about;
And often when I go to plough,
The ploughshare turns them out!
For many thousand men," said he,
"Were slain in that great victory."
"Now tell us what 'twas all about,"
Young Peterkin, he cries;
And little Wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
"Now tell us all about the war,
And what they fought each other for."
"It was the English," Kaspar cried,
"Who put the French to rout;
But what they fought each other for,
I could not well make out;
But everybody said," quoth he,
"That 'twas a famous victory.
"My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly;
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.
"With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,
And many a childing mother then,
And new-born baby died;
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.
"They say it was a shocking sight
After the field was won;
For many thousand bodies here
Lay rotting in the sun;
But things like that, you know, must be
After a famous victory.
"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,
And our good Prince Eugene."
"Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!"
Said little Wilhelmine.
"Nay... nay... my little girl," quoth he,
"It was a famous victory.
"And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win."
"But what good came of it at last?"
Quoth little Peterkin.
"Why that I cannot tell," said he,
"But 'twas a famous victory."