Senior Hamas official, Khaled Mashaal, signals political repositioning without abandoning resistance principles

Senior Hamas figure Khaled Mashaal has the “right to resistance” while calling for a comprehensive Arab-Islamic strategy and a unified Palestinian vision for the post-war phase in Gaza.

Speaking at the 17th Al Jazeera Forum in Doha on Sunday, Mashaal warned of what he characterised as a structural threat posed by Israel not only to Palestine but to the wider region and the Islamic world. He urged the development of a broader regional approach and called for a national Palestinian framework to address the period following what he referred to as “Operation Decisive Storm”, including the reconstruction of Gaza and the reorganisation of Palestinian internal affairs.

Observers said the speech reflected an attempt at political repositioning, not by retreating from core principles but by reframing the international discussion on Gaza. Rather than focusing solely on weapons and security, Mashaal appeared to shift the emphasis towards political and legal dimensions, including occupation, guarantees and Palestinian rights.

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Ahmed Al-Atawneh, director of the Vision Centre for Political Development, said Mashaal deliberately broadened the scope of the conflict by portraying the Israeli occupation as a threat to the entire region, particularly Arab and Islamic states.

In comments to Quds Press, Al-Atawneh said this framing casts the conflict as a central struggle for the wider nation rather than a localised dispute, and calls for an Arab, Islamic and international strategy to confront a primary regional adversary.

He added that Mashaal outlined a political vision centred on resistance as a legally and religiously recognised right for a people living under occupation, in line with principles of international law and the right to self-determination.

Mashaal also stressed that Palestinian unity remains essential, arguing that confronting the occupation is a fundamental national principle that cannot be separated from any political or humanitarian arrangements.

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