According to reports circulating in Hamas-linked social media channels, senior Hamas political bureau member Mousa Abu Marzouk said in an interview with The New York Times that if Hamas leaders had known in advance what the consequences of the October 7 attack would be — including the destruction across Gaza — the attack would not have been carried out.

His statement triggered a public storm inside Hamas.

Abu Marzouk reportedly said that knowing the consequences in advance would have made support for the attack impossible. He also crossed another internal red line by suggesting that Hamas could show flexibility and discuss disarmament as part of a future political arrangement.