Who Really Protects Palestine?
On September 25, 2025, Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas official, gave a rare interview to CNN. In it, Hamad defended the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks while barely acknowledging the devastating impact on Palestinian civilians, raising serious questions about what it truly means to Free Palestine and who is actually being protected.
Key moments highlight a grim reality:
Dismissal of civilian suffering
“That child can die. It’s okay because it’s… in order to fulfill our resistance.” — (09:11–09:45).
“What choice do the Palestinians have? For the first time, Palestinians are making sacrifices in this conflict.” — (00:43–01:09).
Collateral damage rationalized
“We are not interested in negotiation. We want to kill. We want to destroy. We want to assassinate.” — (00:43–01:09).
“It began on October 7th… nearly 1,200 people were killed.” — (07:20).
Hamas hiding among civilians
“No, we will never use him as shields… We explained that we as Hamas, we use these people, or we deal with people according to the Islamic principle… According to Islamic values.” — (05:11–05:33).
“They said that in order to deter this Israeli military invasion, they are placing Israeli hostages strategically… they are placing them around Gaza City and saying that if they die, we will be on Netanyahu’s hands.” — (05:33–05:58).
The interview underscores that Hamas deliberately positions its military assets within dense civilian areas, making ordinary Palestinians human shields. This sets the stage for a broader discussion about proxy networks and the financial exploitation of Gaza.
Are Hamas Leaders Protecting Gaza—or Living in Luxury?
While Palestinians struggle with shortages of food, water, electricity, and medical care, Hamas leaders live in comfort abroad. Independent sources report:
- Khaled Mashal (Khaled Meshaal): Longtime senior political leader and diplomatic face of Hamas | ~$4 billion
- Mousa (Moussa) Abu Marzouk: Founding member and longtime senior political operator in Hamas | ~$3 billion
- Late Ismail Haniyeh: was the chairman of Hamas’s Political Bureau (2017–2024) | ~$4 billion
Leaders enjoy luxury in Qatar and Turkey, a sharp contrast with civilians in Gaza.
This stark discrepancy raises the question: who really benefits while Gaza suffers? The answer points to proxy networks, financial mismanagement, and international complicity.
Iran and Proxy Networks: Who Really Pulls the Strings?
Hamas does not act in isolation. Iran provides an estimated $300+ million annually, funding operations, weapons, and luxury for leaders (SIPRI, IISS). This turns Hamas into a strategic proxy network, expanding Iran’s regional influence while ordinary Palestinians endure devastation.
These examples emphasize the hybrid warfare tactics that Nick Berg outlines in Shadows of Tehran—leveraging proxy networks while civilians are used as shields.
Civilians as Collateral: The Human Cost
Gaza residents endure the consequences of these proxy networks.
Societal resilience is weakened: ordinary people bear the brunt while leadership and proxy networks consolidate power and wealth.
Societal resilience is weakened: ordinary people bear the brunt while leadership and proxy networks consolidate power and wealth.
Lessons from Nick Berg and Shadows of Tehran
Nick Berg’s experiences, as detailed in Shadows of Tehran, provide a lens through which to understand this complex dynamic.
His dual identity and deep cultural understanding illustrate how leaders exploit human behavior and hybrid networks to their advantage.
Berg’s strategic insight helps anticipate how proxy networks manipulate populations, while his operational awareness is critical for identifying threats and mitigating collateral damage in conflict zones.
The parallels are striking: Hamas leadership acts with strategic calculation, civilians are treated as expendable, and Iran’s proxy funding amplifies these dynamics.
Conclusion: Free Palestine—What Does That Really Mean?
Free Palestine is not just a slogan; it requires confronting the realities of proxy networks, the wealth of leadership, and Iran’s involvement. This blog challenges assumptions:
- Who truly protects Palestinians?
- Can humanitarian aid function without being exploited by proxy networks?
- How can societal resilience be built under the shadow of hybrid warfare?
By asking these questions, we confront the uncomfortable truth: Hamas leaders’ wealth and strategic networks come at the direct cost of the people they claim to serve.
This is the reality we must consider when advocating to Free Palestine in a way that is ethically responsible, aware of proxy networks, and committed to true societal resilience.
