Overview

Taher al-Nunu is the media advisor to Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas’s political bureau.“Commanders in exile: Gazan faction heads quit the Strip,” I24 News, January 13, 2022, https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/palestinian-territories/1642069442-commanders-in-exile-gazan-faction-heads-quit-the-strip. Al-Nunu has been affiliated with Hamas in an official position since at least 2011.Isabel Kershner and Fares Akram, “Palestinian Unity Effort Shows Cracks as Factions Disagree Over Choosing Leader,” New York Times, June 13, 2011, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/world/middleeast/14mideast.html. However, he reportedly held the title of “media coordinator” and “media adviser” since at least 2012.“Qatari emir in historic Gaza visit,” Al Jazeera, October 23, 2012, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/10/23/qatari-emir-in-historic-gaza-visit.

In 2015, al-Nunu announced that Hamas planned to launch a social media campaign on X, previously known as Twitter, that was called #AskHamas.“Gaza PM adviser dismisses Israel recognition remarks,” Anadolu Agency, February 12, 2015, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-pm-adviser-dismisses-israel-recognition-remarks. According to al-Nunu the campaign was “aimed at rejecting the label of the Palestinian resistance as ‘terrorists.’” #AskHamas was largely discredited with negative responses tallying around 3,000 before the campaign was even launched.Adam Taylor, “Hamas’s #AskHamas Twitter campaign is being mocked and it hasn’t even started yet,” Washington Post, March 12, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/03/12/hamass-askhamas-twitter-campaign-is-being-mocked-and-it-hasnt-even-started-yet/.

In March 2017, al-Nunu responded to news that after four years of work, Hamas had drafted a new platform to replace the group’s 1988 charter. The controversial document included language of Hamas’s struggle specifically against the Jews and the promise of obliterating Israel. The new document instead labeled Hamas’s enemies as “occupiers.”Ian Fisher and Majd Al Waheidi, “New Hamas Charter Would Name ‘Occupiers,’ Not ‘Jews,’ as the Enemy,” March 9, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/world/middleeast/hamas-gaza-israel-jews.html. According to al-Nunu, the new platform endorses “that we don’t fight Jews because they are Jews…our struggle is only against those who occupied our lands.”Ian Fisher and Majd Al Waheidi, “New Hamas Charter Would Name ‘Occupiers,’ Not ‘Jews,’ as the Enemy,” March 9, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/world/middleeast/hamas-gaza-israel-jews.html.

Following the U.K.’s designation of Hamas’s political bureau as a terrorist organization in November 2021, al-Nunu claimed Haniyeh condemned the decision and seeks to enlist Arab, Islamic and international support to oppose the decision. However, al-Nunu also claimed the decision will not change anything as Hamas does not have a presence in the U.K.“Palestinian condemnations of the British decision to outlaw Hamas’ political bureau,” The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, October 12, 2021, https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/palestinian-condemnations-of-the-british-decision-to-outlaw-hamas-political-bureau/. As of 2022, it is suspected that al-Nunu lives in Doha, Qatar.“Commanders in exile: Gazan faction heads quit the Strip,” I24 News, January 13, 2022, https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/palestinian-territories/1642069442-commanders-in-exile-gazan-faction-heads-quit-the-strip.

Hamas continues to wage a vengeful campaign against Israel and on October 7, 2023, a day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war, Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel that included hundreds of Hamas fighters ambushing more than a dozen Israeli communities and military bases within 15 miles of the Gaza border. Hamas militants also launched thousands of rockets reaching as far as Tel Aviv.Ammar Awad and Maayan Lubell, “Gunmen in homes, captives abducted leave Israelis in shock,” Reuters, October 7, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gunmen-homes-captives-abducted-gaza-leave-israelis-shock-2023-10-07/. At least 800 people in Israel were killed and more than 1,000 were wounded in the first three days. Israel retaliated with airstrikes on in Gaza and on October 8, issued an official declaration of war.Tia Goldenberg and Wafaa Shurafa, “Israel declares war, bombards Gaza and battles to dislodge Hamas fighters after surprise attack,” Associated Press, October 8, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-ca7903976387cfc1e1011ce9ea805a71.

Sources close to Hamas later told Reuters the terrorist group prepared for the operation for two years by constructing and training in mock settlements in Gaza.Samia Nakhoul and Jonathan Saul, “How Israel was duped as Hamas planned devastating assault,” Reuters, October 8, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-israel-was-duped-hamas-planned-devastating-assault-2023-10-08/. The Wall Street Journal reported several senior Hamas and Hezbollah sources confirmed the participation of officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in planning the attack in meetings in Beirut in August 2023. According to those officials, the IRGC had provided a greenlight for the attack in September.Ammar Awad and Maayan Lubell, “Gunmen in homes, captives abducted leave Israelis in shock,” Reuters, October 7, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gunmen-homes-captives-abducted-gaza-leave-israelis-shock-2023-10-07/; Samia Nakhoul and Jonathan Saul, “How Israel was duped as Hamas planned devastating assault,” Reuters, October 8, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-israel-was-duped-hamas-planned-devastating-assault-2023-10-08/; Hadas Gold, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Paul P. Murphy, Allegra Goodwin, Benjamin Brown, and Sophie Tanno, “Festivalgoers, children, soldiers: What we know about the people captured by Hamas,” CNN, October 9, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/08/europe/israel-hostages-hamas-what-we-know-intl/index.html; Summer Said, Benoit Faucon, and Stephen Kalin, “Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks,” Wall Street Journal, October 8, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-hamas-strike-planning-bbe07b25.