Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, gained significant attention after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was released by a federal judge earlier this year and, during a CNN interview, he notably refused to denounce Hamas.
The judge had ordered his release from ICE custody in Louisiana back in June, following a request from his attorney to have him transferred to New Jersey. When Khalil appeared on “Situation Room,” CNN’s Pamela Brown pressed him on whether he would blame Hamas. His response, however, was somewhat evasive.
“I condemn the murder of all civilians and call for a complete halt,” Khalil stated, adding, “It’s dishonest to blame Hamas while the Palestinians are now starving due to Israel.” Instead of directly addressing Hamas, he shifted the discussion toward the broader issues faced by Palestinians.
“I’m very clear in blaming all civilians,” he reiterated. He was firm in his stance that it was crucial to address the underlying reasons for the conflict. Yet Brown persisted with her line of questioning, stressing the importance of attributing blame as suggested by the Trump administration regarding Hamas sympathizers.
Khalil responded, “My responsibility as a Palestinian is to advocate for peace and to call for an end to the violence in my homeland. It’s absurd to ask me to denounce Hamas when so many Palestinians have been killed.” He expressed frustration over the focus on blame in a situation where the humanitarian crisis was so severe.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer then interjected, noting their previous conversation about anti-Semitism. He wished Khalil well, acknowledging his new son and expressing hope for their continued connection.
Following his release, Khalil has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Trump administration, citing false imprisonment and malicious prosecution, as well as being unfairly branded as an anti-Semite during attempts to deport him.
Amid the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict, protests by left-leaning students erupted across major U.S. universities in 2024, with Columbia University becoming a prominent center of activism. The situation escalated significantly, leading university officials to call for order restoration and resulting in arrests by the NYPD.
During these events, Khalil positioned himself as a leading voice for the movement, engaging with the media and acting as an intermediary between campus activists and university administrators.
