A top Hamas official told CNN that he cannot guarantee the safety of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, but he denied a United Nations special representative’s conclusion that there is “clear and convincing evidence” that some of them had been sexually abused.

“I cannot now reassure you, anyone, because all these war prisoners are facing the same bombardment and starvation our people (are) facing on the ground,” said Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, while “absolutely” denying sexual assault claims.

Naim spoke to CNN on Wednesday in a lengthy and occasionally contentious Zoom interview from his office in Istanbul, Turkey, about the state of the ceasefire negotiations with Israel, the fate of the 130 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, and Hamas’ contribution to the extensive destruction the Israeli military wreaked in Gaza in response to the terrorist attacks on October 7 that claimed more than 1,200 lives.

During the interview, Naim denied that Hamas’ acts are terrorism, arguing that his organization does not target civilians. Instead, he accused Israel of carrying out “state terrorism” in Gaza and renewed Hamas’ appeals for Palestinians to join in “armed resistance” against Israel during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began Sunday night.

Senior Hamas Official Says He ‘Cannot Reassure Anyone’ That Hostages In Gaza Are Safe

Israel has denied targeting people, accusing Hamas of hiding behind civilian infrastructure. More than 31,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza since the Israeli military operation began, with the majority of them being women and children, according to the enclave’s health ministry.

The fate of hostages and sexual violence allegations
A week after, a United Nations team led by U.N. special representative Pramila Patten said it found “clear and convincing information” that some women held hostage by Hamas had been raped or sexually abused and that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe the sexual violence was ongoing, Naim said he “absolutely” denied the allegations.

“She was not able to show any proof and solid evidence from an eyewitness,” he stated. “She hasn’t met any of the victims.”

Patten’s team conducted 34 interviews, including personal testimonies from liberated hostages as well as testimony from survivors, bystanders, health and support providers, and first responders to the October 7 attack.

“Based on the first-hand accounts of released hostages, the mission team received clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment occurred against some women and children during their time in captivity,” according to the U.N. report.

Hamas has denied international agencies access to the remaining captives in captivity to assess their well-being.

While Naim refuted the charges of sexual abuse, he claimed Hamas was unable to account for the hostages’ well-being due to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza. A ceasefire, he claimed, was required to “collect more data” regarding their fate.

The likelihood of a ceasefire accord materializing needs to be investigated.

For weeks, mediators have presented the accord as a multi-phase agreement, with the first stage involving a six-week ceasefire in fighting and the release of approximately 40 Israeli hostages and a substantial number of Palestinians.

Hamas’ most recent, long-awaited ceasefire proposal calls for Israel to release 700 to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas releasing Israeli women, including IDF soldiers, children, the elderly, and wounded and sick hostages, according to a diplomatic source familiar with the talks, confirming earlier Reuters reporting.

The proposal anticipates a permanent truce following the initial exchange of hostages and detainees, as well as a timeframe for Israel’s disengagement from Gaza.

Hamas has continuously requested a lasting cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops as a condition for any agreement, which the Israeli government has rejected.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office branded the latest plan “ridiculous” and stated on Thursday that “Hamas is continuing to hold unrealistic demands,” yet an Israeli delegation is being dispatched to Doha, Qatar, for additional negotiations.

“Our impression is it is not going to be easy to convince the Israelis of this,” the diplomat said.

Senior Hamas Official Says He ‘Cannot Reassure Anyone’ That Hostages In Gaza Are Safe

When asked why Hamas would not accept a temporary ceasefire despite the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the U.N. believes half a million people are on the verge of starvation, Naim blamed the Israeli government and said Hamas would be “naive” to agree to one. Naim talked with CNN before the specifics of the latest Hamas proposal were made public.

“Do you believe that we are so naive to accept going for a temporary humanitarian ceasefire for six weeks or two months to give the Israelis all what (they are) looking for?” Naim stated. “I think any, any rational politician around the world, he will expect to reach a permanent quiet, a permanent ceasefire so that we can go from this point out to relieve the people on the ground to rebuild the Gaza Strip again.”

When asked to respond to Naim’s remarks, an Israeli government source stated: “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has released 112 prisoners to date and is dedicated to freeing all hostages. “Once Hamas’ delusional demands are realized, there may be another humanitarian pause for a hostage release deal,” the official stated.

Israel has restricted the flow of humanitarian aid into crucial areas of the Gaza Strip and is obligated under international humanitarian law to ensure that Gaza’s civilian population does not starve.

What about Hamas’s responsibility?

“First and foremost, we bear full responsibility for our people. As a result, from the beginning, we sought to put an end to this assault and the death of our people. And we have contacted all of the mediators in order to secure a definitive, complete cease-fire. But you’re condemning Hamas, as if we’re the ones doing all of these crimes and preventing humanitarian supplies from entering Gaza,” Naim remarked.

In recent weeks, many Gazan people have increasingly blamed Hamas for the growing food shortage. When discussing aid distribution, displaced people accused Hamas of diverting humanitarian aid intended for civilians to its soldiers.

Naim refuted the allegations, claiming that Hamas was “fighting for the people, not against them.”

Senior Hamas Official Says He ‘Cannot Reassure Anyone’ That Hostages In Gaza Are Safe

Ramadan and the ‘Month of Jihad’
The conversation occurred during the first week of Ramadan when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was particularly tense. This year, it takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli crackdowns on Palestinian militant groups in the occupied West Bank, and Hamas’ incitement for further assaults.

Ahead of the interview, Hamas issued a statement urging Palestinians in the occupied West Bank “to continue clashing with the Zionist occupation in support of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and our steadfast people in Gaza, especially as we experience the blessings of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of jihad and resistance.”

Naim stated that Palestinians have the right to pursue “freedom and dignity” and an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital through both diplomatic and “armed resistance.”

When asked if Hamas is attempting to incite terrorist attacks against Israel during Ramadan, Naim denied that description.

Naim further claimed that Hamas only targets armed Israeli settlers and those involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Hamas massacred hundreds of civilians, including women and children, during its October 7 onslaught, and it has been targeting civilians for years in addition to attacking the Israeli military.

SOURCE – (CNN)