Hamas Dismisses Israeli Poll Impact as Gaza Suffering Continues

News Desk
DOHA: Hamas senior leader Khalil al-Hayya has dismissed the prospect of any meaningful political shift emerging from Israel’s upcoming general elections, asserting that Palestinian suffering continues to be exploited as campaign leverage.
Speaking in an interview with the Qatari broadcaster Al-Araby on Saturday, al-Hayya emphasized that decades of conflict have demonstrated little difference between successive Israeli administrations regarding Palestinian rights.
The remarks come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu navigates a fiercely contested political landscape ahead of the October 27 polls, where he is fighting to retain power. In the lead-up to the crucial vote, Netanyahu has firmly rejected troop withdrawals from Gaza and pushed back against a US-led peace initiative, demanding conditions that include the disarmament of Hamas—a proposition viewed with deep scepticism by the group.
Al-Hayya strongly condemned the intersection of domestic Israeli politics and military action in the besieged enclave, stating that the Palestinian cause must not be reduced to political fuel.
“Whether this or that person comes to power, or this party or another — our people have suffered at the hands of all Israeli parties,” he remarked, adding that the ultimate objective remains the realization of legitimate Palestinian aspirations.
As the election date approaches, international observers warn that the rigid political stances on both sides could further entrench the conflict and complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The upcoming ballot marks the first major electoral test in Israel since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, leaving regional stakeholders watching closely for any sign of a shift in policy.