Nasser Hospital in Gaza used for Hamas interrogations amid declining support

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The video addresses a critical question regarding control within the Gaza Strip by examining two contrasting narratives emerging from the region. On one hand, Israeli intelligence agencies, specifically the IDF and Shin Bet, allege that Hamas is utilizing Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis as a center for interrogations, torture, and intimidation against Palestinians. This accusation suggests that the terror group is resorting to coercive measures to maintain its grip on the population as external pressures mount. Simultaneously, an Associated Press investigation highlights a thriving black market where smuggled goods like cigarettes, iPhones, medicine, and fuel are sold at exorbitant prices, with reports indicating that Hamas officials, Palestinian authorities, Israeli soldiers, and middlemen are all profiting from these illicit transactions. Despite these allegations of internal repression and economic exploitation, the transcript reveals a deep-seated loss of public support for Hamas among the Gazan population. Activist Ramy Aman explains that since the wars in 2009 and 2014, and continuing through the years leading up to October 7th, hundreds of thousands of people have been calling for Hamas to leave Gaza. The current situation has created a sense of total devastation where civilians feel trapped between two powerful forces: the Israeli military and the Hamas regime. Ramy notes that while there is a desire for a new government or a committee to manage affairs within Gaza, the reality remains that any Palestinian leader is immediately labeled as part of Hamas by the Israeli government under Netanyahu, leaving the population with no viable political alternatives. A significant barrier to resistance or change identified in the discussion is the absence of an independent third party capable of applying pressure on either side. Ramy points out that while Israel has internal political factions and opposition parties, the Palestinian territories lack leaders who can effectively challenge Hamas without being immediately co-opted or eliminated. He argues that Hamas actively works to prevent any movement from forming that could remove them, asserting that if Hamas were removed, a "normal gang" or legitimate leadership would emerge. However, the ongoing violence and arrests by both Israeli forces and Hamas itself make it impossible to build such movements, leaving civilians in a state of fear where even the word of peace is associated with past failures and killings. Ultimately, the video concludes with a poignant reflection on the lack of hope and the devastating impact of the current conflict on the civilian psyche. Although there is a palpable desire for a solution and ongoing advocacy campaigns between Israelis and Palestinians at the grassroots level, these efforts remain invisible to the wider world due to the absence of recognized leadership voices. Ramy emphasizes that while politics often stalls progress, ordinary people continue to communicate and advocate for each other daily. Despite the fear surrounding negotiations and the reputation damaged by past events in the 1990s, he insists on maintaining internal hope, believing that peace and respect are still valuable goals worth pursuing even when the path forward seems blocked by war and oppression.

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All right, we're turning to the Gaza Strip now. Two very different stories coming out of Gaza are pointing to the same bigger question. Who is really in control? Well, the IDF and the Israeli intelligence service, Shin Bet, say that Hamas is turning one of Gaza's biggest hospitals into a center for interrogation, torture, and intimidation as the terror group struggles to maintain its grip on the population. Israeli intelligence says that Hamas is operating inside Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, allegedly interrogating and extorting Palestinians there. The same time, an Associated Press investigation finds smuggling networks are bringing everything from cigarettes and iPhones to medicine and fuel into Gaza with some goods selling for many times their normal price. The report also alleges that Palestinian officials, Israeli soldiers, and middlemen are taking a cut while Hamas is reportedly collecting money on smuggled goods. So, what do these developments tell us about Hamas' control over Gaza and the growing pressure on civilians? Well, joining us to break this down is Cairo or joining us in Cairo, sorry, is Gaza and peace activist Ramy Aman. Ramy, the IDF and the Shin Bet claim that Hamas is using Nasser Hospital as an interrogation and torture center. What is your reaction to those allegations? And how credible do you believe that they are? >> Uh thank you so much. So, my reaction that both Shin Bet and Hamas using the people inside Gaza. It's like a game. People inside Gaza, Shin Bet uh says about Gaza that it's a city for Hamas. Hamas blame IDF. In the end, after 3 years, I think uh it's very clear that people in Gaza have nothing to do. Only we are talking about Hamas. Hamas has Hamas nothing to change, and IDF is IDF. >> You know, AP is simultaneously describing a booming black market, rising prices. Israel says that Hamas is intensifying these interrogations and intimidation while this is all happening. From those Gazans that you're speaking to on the ground, what do they want to see happen? Is it true that there is less support for Hamas than ever before? And do you think Hamas is realizing that? >> Hamas lost the support from the people inside Gaza since years. After the first war in 2009, the second war in 2014, and then the years after that. Till 2023, 1 month before October 7th, hundred thousands of people inside Gaza, they were calling for Hamas to leave Gaza. Because of that, Hamas went to the border. People inside Gaza after Trump statement, we feel that maybe there is a chance for Gaza committee to make the government inside Gaza. But nothing. People inside Gaza waiting for a new government uh for the Israeli government, anyone inside Gaza, including me, including my family, including people who are supporting peace with Israel, we are under the label of Hamas. Netanyahu not allowing Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu not allowing any other one to control Gaza. >> Mhm. >> So, I think it's like renew Hamas. Now the Israeli drone over Gaza from 2007, they see everything inside Gaza, not only Nasser Hospital. So, >> [sighs] >> I think it's only a game, and now we are waiting the result of the elections in Israel. And uh nothing will change. I think the war will be working. Hamas using the war very good for pushing their agenda. Hamas, if there is one Palestinian alive, you will find Hamas not beside him or in a front him. You will find Hamas beside him. And Netanyahu won't >> Right. I I mean, obviously, there's just such a lack of hope. It seems like a real a real feeling, you know, of just total devastation amongst those who are still in the Gaza Strip right now. I think, of course, the question is, why aren't we seeing people rising up against Hamas in larger numbers if that is, in fact, the sentiment? You know, obviously, with these reports of these interrogations of the violence that is being used against civilians, is there any way in which the population could fight back to this? Or do you believe with no alternative that is supported by Israel, there is no way forward? >> I can explain for you another thing. In Gaza or in the Palestinian territories, we are missing the third party who can make the stress on Hamas and and Abu Mazen. In the Israeli community, you can't find the third party. You can't find people like trying to make a pressure on Netanyahu, left parties, the religious, everyone, but in the Palestinian territories, we have no leaders. For the world, for Netanyahu, for the international community, they are happy with Hamas and Fatah. The majority of people inside Gaza, they can lead their country, but the problem we don't have Hamas killed any chance to build any movement in the previous years. Hamas want to prove for the world. If you will remove Hamas from Gaza, you will find you will find normal gang. But we need election, but not election in this kind of circumstances. We need sustainable time so we can remove Hamas, remove anyone. But, we need sustainable time, but people inside Gaza, we are under the killing by the Israelis and by Hamas. Every day Hamas arrest or target or retreat someone. Nobody care. >> Right. I mean, you know, obviously a very devastating situation, very hard to see the images that are coming out of Gaza right now, and I think that uh you know, there's certainly a desire internationally to push forward some type of plan here, but many questions as to what that plan will look like and how you get Hamas to ultimately disarm as well. Uh you know, Rami, I'd like to thank you again for joining us. It's always interesting to hear your take on this. And uh you know, I think we're all hoping for some type of solution to come together at some point. >> There is a There is a hope. I'm talking with the people, Israelis and Palestinians, because of that I still believe in that. >> Mhm. >> Politics is is politics, but you know, people every day, every day, many Israelis and Palestinians are talking or make advocacy campaigns together. >> That's true. >> No one knows about them inside Israel, inside Gaza, people talking to each other. So, but no leaders, we have no leaders represent their voices. People inside Gaza afraid from peace word, afraid of from negotiation word, because in the '90s Hamas killed the reputation of peace word. Like peace word in Israel. Peace is value. Uh respect is good thing. So, we need to keep the hope inside ourselves, and I believe in that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Rami.