Basem Naim

Basem Naim (born 1963) is a Palestinian physician, politician, and Hamas official. Naim served as Minister of Health in the First Haniyeh Government; then, as Minister of Youth and Sports in the Palestinian National Unity Government of March 2007.

Basem Naim
Health Minister of the Gaza Strip
In office
?–2012
Minister of Youth and Sports
In office
March 2007 – June 2007
Preceded by?
Personal details
Born1963
Beit Hanoun, Gaza
Political partyHamas
ProfessionPhysician, politician

After the Battle of Gaza and the dissolution of the unity government on June 14, 2007, by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Naim became Health Minister of the Gaza Strip. He stepped down in 2012 and became the head of the Council on International Relations in Gaza.[1]

Naim holds a degree in medicine from Germany and a PhD in surgery. He has worked at the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. His eldest son was a member of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and was killed at the age of 17 during an Israeli incursion in Shuja'iyya.[2][1]

Following Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, the newly formed Gaza strip government designated Bassem Naim as the Minister of Health, leading to the removal of hospital directors in Gaza who were affiliated with Fatah, along with the dismissal of numerous doctors and medical staff. As a Minister of Health, Naim replaced Fatah-affiliated hospital directors and medical staff with Hamas-aligned individuals. One affected professional, Jomaa Alsaqqa, a 20-year surgeon at al-Shifa Hospital, was terminated for his Fatah support. He claims to have been arrested and assaulted by Hamas since the Hamas takeover.[3]

Naim has a large following on social media where he often posts anti-Israel and pro-BDS messages.[4] Naim has several times condemned terror attacks against Jews that were carried out by non-Muslims.[5][4]

2023 Israel–Hamas war
Main article: 2023 Israel–Hamas war

In an interview with Sky News, following Hamas' coordinated attack on Israel in 2023, Naim asserted that no Israeli civilians were killed in the initial attack, despite evidence to the contrary.[6][7] In his second interview On October 16, Naim reiterated that no Israeli civilians were killed and informed Sky News that the status of the 199 civilians held hostage remains uncertain. In a confrontational interview, he emphasized the difficulty of ascertaining their well-being due to the intense bombardment in Gaza. Naim further stated, "We have communicated to all intermediaries our willingness to release all civilian hostages once the aggression against our people ceases".[8]

References
  1. IBP USA. Palestine Business Intelligence Report Volume 1 Strategic and Practical Information. Lulu.com. pp. 24–. ISBN 978-1-4387-3748-5.
  2. "JMCC - Basem Naim".
  3. Merav, Sarig (2007-11-03). "triking medics in Gaza temporarily return to work after talks with Hamas". National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  4. Ynet (Oct 11, 2019). "In rare move, Hamas condemns Germany synagogue attack". ynetnews. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  5. Levy, Elior (Oct 28, 2018). "Hamas official condemns Pittsburgh attack: 'proves that terror has no religion'". ynetnews. Retrieved Aug 12, 2020.
  6. "October 12, 2023 - Israel-Hamas war news". CNN. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  7. "Hamas official: 'We have not killed any civilians'" (video). youtube.com. Sky News. 10 Oct 2023.
  8. Austin, Mark (16 October 2023). "Israel-Hamas war: Hamas official 'doesn't know' if hostages are alive". Sky News.
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