Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy chairman of Hamas's political bureau, was killed today in Beirut, Lebanon, reportedly in an Israeli airstrike.[1] Al-Arouri, 57, who was based in Lebanon, was the de-facto leader of Hamas's military wing in the West Bank. He served several sentences in Israeli prison, and was released in March 2010 as part of the prisoner exchange deal for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
About a month before the October 7 Hamas attack, Al-Arouri said on Lebanon's Hizbullah-affiliated Al Mayadeen TV: "A total war has become inevitable. We all consider it necessary. We want it. At the resistance axis, the Palestinian people, and our nation, we want this total war. It is not [just] something we say in the media. We talk about it behind closed doors. We are meeting with all the parties that [will take part] in this total war, and we are discussing together the different scenarios and possibilities. We are convinced that it is possible for us... Not that it is possible. We will certainly defeat them."
The following are MEMRI TV clips of Al-Arouri, from August 25 to date. Earlier clips of Al-Arouri are available in the MEMRI TV archives.
Senior Hamas Official Saleh Al-Arouri: We Want War With Israel, Will Shut Down Israel's Airspace, Seaports, Electricity, Water Supply, And Communications, Bringing Its Economy To A Standstill
Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Chairman Saleh Al-Arouri said in an August 25, 2023 show on Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) that a "total war" with Israel is inevitable, that the Palestinian people want such a war, and that that Hamas is preparing for it by meeting with all the "parties" that would participate in it. He said that in this war, Israel will not have the advantages it had in past wars with Arab armies, since it has these advantages in classical warfare scenarios, but not in unconventional warfare scenarios. He also said that in a "total conflict", Israel's airspace, seaports, electricity, water supply, and communications will be shut down. In addition, he said that Hamas is capable of imposing a curfew in Israel and bringing its economy to a standstill.
To view this clip on MEMRI TV, click here or below:
Saleh Al-Arouri: "A total war has become inevitable. We all consider it necessary. We want it. At the resistance axis, the Palestinian people, and our nation, we want this total war. It is not [just] something we say in the media. We talk about it behind closed doors. We are meeting with all the parties that [will take part] in this total war, and we are discussing together the different scenarios and possibilities. We are convinced that it is possible for us... Not that it is possible. We will certainly defeat them.
"Wars have changed. The war will not be like the one in 1967, when the Israeli air force destroyed the Arab air forces, and then was free to hunt down the Arab armies. This will not happen again. The war in Ukraine changed things. Now there are precision weapons, smart weapons, cyber warfare. War has changed and the means of war have changed."
Interviewer: "The tactics have changed..."
Al-Arouri: "Even the weapons have changed. The classic warfare of [regular] armies has changed, as proved by the Ukraine war. Since its foundation, Israel has relied on its superiority in classic warfare. They themselves are surprised by the new achievements of weapons, which can be obtained by non-state entities.
"Therefore, we are convinced that if a total conflict begins, the airspace and seaports of this entity will be shut down, and they will not be able to live without electricity, water, and communications.
"In an open war, they will have a curfew and their economy will come to a standstill."
Interviewer: "You are capable of doing all this?"
Al-Arouri: "Yes, we can."
Saleh Al-Arouri, Deputy Chairman Of Hamas Political Bureau: We Are Ready For All Options, Ground Invasion By The Enemy Would Be The Best Scenario – the Storming Of The Gaza Envelope Will Pale Compared To What May Happen To Them – October 7, 2023
On October 7, 2023, Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired an audio recording in which Hamas political bureau deputy chairman Saleh Al-Arouri warned that an Israeli ground invasion into the Gaza Strip would be the "best scenario" as far as Hamas is concerned. He said that a ground invasion would "put an end to this conflict and defeat the enemy," and that in such a case, "the storming of the Zionist settlements and bases in the Gaza Envelope will pale compared to what may happen to them." He said that the invasion of southern Israel – in which over 1000 Israelis were murdered and over 100 were kidnapped – was carried out according to the plan that had been "drawn up." Al-Arouri added: "Taking control of those settlements and bases with their people was part of the plan." Moreover, he claimed that Hamas did not harm civilians and that videos of the attacks show that the people were treated in a "humane way."
To view this clip on MEMRI TV, click here or below:
Saleh Al-Arouri: "All the possibilities are taken into consideration. The resistance is basing its positions and plans on the worst-case scenarios, including an [Israeli] ground invasion. Let me use this platform to tell our people that for us, the possibility of a ground invasion into Gaza by the enemy is the best scenario to end this conflict and defeat the enemy. The storming of the Zionist settlements and bases in the Gaza Envelope by the resistance fighters and mujahideen will pale compared to what may happen to them, if they send ground forces into Gaza."
[...]
Interviewer: "Was this scenario of capturing several hostages part of your plans?"
Al-Arouri: "The plan was carried out the way it was drawn up. Taking control of those settlements and bases with their people was part of the plan. We do not target civilians. We do not kill or harm them. You may have watched videos where you could see that the people who surrendered to the resistance were treated humanely."
Deputy-Chairman Of Hamas Political Bureau Saleh Al-Arouri: Hamas Did Not Target Civilians; Ordinary People From Gaza Tagged Along And Kidnapped Israeli Civilians – October 12, 2023
Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired an audio recording of Hamas political bureau deputy chairman Saleh Al-Arouri on October 12, 2023, in which he stated that Hamas does not target civilians. He elaborated that any civilians that were killed in Israeli kibbutzim and settlements, were killed during clashes between Al-Qassam Brigades and Israeli guards, soldiers, and armed civilians. Al-Arouri added that Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades only captured soldiers, but ordinary residents of Gaza tagged along with Hamas, and they were the ones who captured civilians and brought them back to Gaza.
To view this clip on MEMRI TV, click here or below:
Al-Arouri: "When the [Israeli] Gaza Division collapsed so quickly and unexpectedly, and people in Gaza realized that the borders were open, and that the army [guarding] the Gaza Envelope collapsed, civilians from Gaza, young men, and armed men entered [Israel] and some unplanned chaos developed in the clashes. Therefore, people [from Gaza] entered the kibbutzim and settlements. Then, some of the guards, soldiers, and settlers there clashed with the men of the Al-Qassam Brigades, inside those kibbutzim and settlements and this led to civilian casualties.
[...]
"The truth is that our mujahideen do not target civilians. It is inconceivable that they would perpetrate the kind of crimes mentioned by the occupation, like rape, killing children, or killing civilians. The [Israeli] army collapsed and did not fulfill its duty of defending itself and defending the civilians. The civilians found themselves in the middle of the clashes, in an open area, where many armed men [from Gaza] arrived, so there were many civilian casualties.
"We are not saying that no civilians were killed, but it was 100% not part of the Al-Qassam Brigades' plan to harm or kill civilians. It was not part of the Al-Qassam Brigades' plan. The men of the Al-Qassam Brigades captured soldiers and took them to Gaza. There are civilians who were captured, because ordinary people [from Gaza] tagged along, grabbed people and took them back to Gaza."
Hamas Senior Official Saleh Al-Arouri: The People In Gaza Support Us, Otherwise They Would Be Angry With Hamas; No More Prisoner Swap Deals Before Final And Complete Ceasefire; The U.S. Is More Nazi And Fascist Than The Zionist Entity – December 2, 2023
Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, said in a December 2, 2023 interview on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) that the population in Gaza completely supports the resistance. He said that if this were not the case, people would not be able to bear the sacrifices and you would hear people who are angry with Hamas. Al-Arouri said that America is "morally bankrupt" regarding its policy on Palestine and that it is more Nazi and fascist than "the Zionist entity itself." Regarding the hostage situation in Gaza, Al-Arouri said that there will be no more prisoner swaps until the war is over and then the "Zionist prisoners" will be released only when all the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are released.
To view this clip on MEMRI TV, click here or below:
Saleh Al-Arouri: "The official and final position of the Hamas movement and the resistance is that there will be no more prisoner swaps before the end of the aggression, and before there is a final and complete ceasefire.
[...]
"We have said, since day one, that those Zionist prisoners would be exchanged for all the prisoners of the Palestinian people held by the occupation, and we are still saying this. Let everybody know that the Zionist prisoners will not be released, unless all of our prisoners are released, and only after there is a ceasefire.
[...]
"America is morally bankrupt regarding anything related to the conflict in Palestine. It has become more Nazi and fascist than the Zionist entity itself.
[...]
"The resistance is ready for all possible scenarios – whether [Israel] conducts war in air or land, or goes into each and every street and alley. The resistance is ready and is empowered by the support of the population. The entire population supports the resistance.
"If there was a rift between the resistance and the people, our people would have been unable to bear all these sacrifices, and you would hear people who are angry with the resistance, (but) they believe in the message of the resistance, and believe that this message is sacred and serious. Therefore, we are saying to our people and to the world: 'You do not need to worry about the resistance.'"
[1] Usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-01-02/israeli-strike-in-lebanon-kills-senior-hamas-official-saleh-al-arouri-security-sources, January 2, 2023.
