On October 16, Hamas senior official Basem Naim sat down for an interview with Reuters in Istanbul, Turkey. This follows the recent announcement of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, being killed by Israeli forces in Rafah on October 17. In his first public response, Naim did not confirm Sinwar’s death but stated firmly to NBC News that Hamas will only grow stronger.
When asked whether Sinwar’s death signifies the beginning of the end for Hamas, Naim responded, “They can say whatever they want; they have made such claims many times before… Each time, Hamas becomes stronger and more popular.” He referenced previous Hamas leaders who were assassinated by Israel, including the founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 2004 and then-leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi.
Naim asserted, “Hamas is a movement for people seeking freedom and dignity, and it cannot be eradicated. We believe our fate will lead us to one of two outcomes: either victory or martyrdom.”
