ByJAMES GENN

AUGUST 4, 2026 15:43

Updated: AUGUST 4, 2026 17:13

Hamas refuses to shift its stance, as spokesperson Ghazi Hamad declared in a Monday broadcast interview with Piers Morgan that confronting the occupation stands as the group's sacred duty.

Morgan pressed Hamad on whether the Trump administration deal, featuring the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, would prompt Hamas to surrender arms.

"This marks an extraordinary period in Palestinian history. Due to unavoidable pressure and dire conditions in Gaza, we endorse this agreement. Yet as Hamas, I affirm we retain our outlook and our objective to terminate the occupation alongside Palestinian groups, since this remains our sacred duty," Hamad stated.

He notably avoided Morgan's direct query on the timeline for Hamas to disarm and relinquish weapons during the process.

"Perhaps this time Hamas will employ alternate tactics, tools, and methods," Hamad noted.

The spokesperson added that he doubts Israel will honor its pledges, citing Israel's alleged arrogance, sense of supremacy, and desire to dominate through force.

Hamas will therefore persist with all Palestinian groups in opposing the occupation until it ends and freedom arrives for the people, Hamad said.

Hamad Calls Deal Exceptional Amid Unusual Conditions

Hamad described the agreement to Morgan as exceptional owing to the unusual circumstances.

"We exerted maximum effort to protect our people and citizens in Gaza from displacement, mass killing, massacres, genocide, and various forms of suffering. This step proves necessary to safeguard Gazans. The arrangement proves difficult, and I am not fully satisfied, as we seek better outcomes to foster improved conditions, end the occupation, and shape a positive future," he said.

"Yet the reality remains extremely difficult and harsh," he asserted.

Hamad further accused Israel of sparking conflicts throughout the Middle East in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran while undermining peace efforts.

Hamad Asserts Hamas Is Not Terrorist Since It Targets Only Israel

Hamad maintained the group upholds humanity, law, ethics, and morality.

He denied any Hamas policy to carry out the October 7 massacre, attributing possible errors to individuals.

Morgan confronted him with prior October 2023 statements in which Hamad vowed to repeat the massacre until Israel is destroyed.

"Killing civilians does not reflect our thinking or mentality," the spokesperson claimed.

He portrayed Hamas as very kind to hostages by providing food along with protection and shelter.

Hamad also insisted Hamas is not a terrorist group because it limits its resistance to occupation and avoids using force against Europeans, Christians, Jews, or Westerners.

Hamad has faced US sanctions since 2024 and resides in Qatar, per NGO Monitor.

Besides serving as a key Hamas voice, he directs Gaza's Social Development Ministry, NGO Monitor reported.

On August 1 the US Justice Department announced the arrest of a UK individual for operating a sham charity tied to Hamad and the ministry.

NGO Monitor flagged additional foreign charities, including three in the US, with troubling ties to the ministry.

Mercy Corps, which obtained 9 million dollars from USAID-BHA in 2022, worked with the ministry on unconditional cash aid in Gaza, according to NGO Monitor.

ANERA, recipient of 79.2 million dollars from USAID between 2013 and 2022 plus another 12.5 million dollars slated for 2024-2029, collaborated on projects including a 2023 building initiative.

Rahma Worldwide joined a Kuwaiti charity previously designated by the US for al-Qaeda connections and coordinated with the ministry on several projects including cash assistance, NGO Monitor found.