Hamas published its version of the October 7 massacre, titled “Our Narrative… Al-Aqsa Flood: Two Years of Steadfastness and the Will for Liberation,” on Wednesday.
The document describes the October 7 massacre, which it refers to as “Al-Aqsa Flood,” as more than a military operation, portraying it as a defining historical moment.
It is divided into eight chapters, addressing the motivations and context of the October 7 massacre, the events of that day, and what Hamas described as an investigation into the “assault.”
Additional chapters focused on the course of the Israel-Hamas War, what Hamas describes as its “diplomatic” activity, and its priorities for the current stage of the war.
The 42-page document reiterated Hamas’s political demands, including the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of Palestinian refugees.
Hamas's previous October 7 propaganda narrative document
In early 2024, Hamas published “Our Narrative: Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” which gave its version of events surrounding the October 7 massacre and the Israel-Hamas War.
That document was circulated widely online and in print. It was reported to have been distributed on college campuses in the United States and Europe, where it appeared in student forums and protest settings.
It was criticized for disputing or omitting widely documented accounts of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and for framing them in ideological and political terms.
Hamas’s continued use of the term “Al-Aqsa Flood” reflects the same framing in the new document.
In the new document, Hamas did not address specific allegations regarding civilian killings, sexual violence, or hostage-taking during the October 7 massacre.
Ohad Merlin contributed to this report.