Likening Hamas to Daesh aims to justify Gaza bloodshed: Palestinian leader

A Palestinian faction leader said Wednesday that Israeli attempts to liken Hamas to the Daesh terrorist group aim to justify bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.

"Israel aims to justify the bloodshed and extermination of Palestinians in Gaza," Talal Abu Zarifa, a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), told Anadolu.

"Hamas fought against Daesh and eliminated it from Gaza in the past years," he said.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Hamas to Daesh and Nazis.

"What Hamas is doing is part of the Palestinian struggle against the [Israeli] occupation that seized the land and desecrates holy sites," Abu Zarifa said.

"Israel is committing massacres and genocide in Gaza. It killed whole families in violation of international law and international humanitarian law," he added.

Israel has launched a massive bombardment campaign on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas into Israeli territory on Oct. 7.

More than 7,900 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 6,546 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza's 2.3 million people have been running out of food, water, medicines and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.