Hamas issued an unexpected statement on Wednesday attributed to Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader in Gaza, offering congratulations to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on his disputed re-election.
In the announcement, Sinwar “congratulates President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the renewed trust of the Algerian people in him as President of Algeria.” He emphasized “Tebboune’s support for the Palestinians” and linked his congratulations to what Hamas refers to as the “Al-Aqsa flood,” a reference to the deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
“Sinwar reiterates his appreciation of the Algerian role in supporting the Palestinian people and defending their rights in international forums,” the statement added. The reference to the October 7 attack in this diplomatic context indicates Hamas’ intention to keep this event central to its narrative, despite the severe consequences the conflict has had for the people of Gaza.
Since the outbreak of the war, Sinwar has only made one formal statement in October 2023, in which he offered an “immediate release of prisoners” in exchange for all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Israeli intelligence believes he is hiding in Gaza’s tunnel network to avoid targeted strikes.
This message also marks the first public statement since Sinwar assumed the role of head of Hamas’ political bureau, following the mysterious elimination of Ismail Haniyeh at the end of July.
{Matzav.com Israel}
