Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent anti-Israel activist, gathered in New York on Saturday, referencing alleged Hamas terrorists during a large protest outside the New York Public Library.
Standing on the library steps, Khalil delivered a seven-minute speech focused on the death of Anas Al-Jazeira, a correspondent killed by an Israeli missile last week.
While Israel claims Al Sharif leads Hamas cells, both he and Al Jazeera have consistently denied these allegations.
Khalil recalled Al Sharif’s last words as he addressed a crowd of roughly 2,000 people, with at least one protester showcasing the green headband worn by members of Hamas’ Iz Ad Din Al-Kassam Brigade.
The demonstration then moved from the library through Manhattan, concluding at Columbus Circle.
Khalil gained national attention earlier this year when he was detained by immigration authorities for actions deemed a threat to national security. He was released from a detention center in Louisiana in late June after a judge ruled his arrest unconstitutional.
Interestingly, during an interview with the New York Times, Khalil appeared to defend the mass violence from October 7, 2023, which ignited the current Israeli-Hamas conflict.
The attacks, which left around 1,200 dead and saw 251 people accused, were characterized by Khalil as a “desperate attempt” by Hamas to “just break the cycle,” although he stopped short of calling the attack “mistakes” and stated that “targeting civilians is wrong.”
This commentary has prompted calls from politicians, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, for Khalil’s immediate deportation.
One statement expressed concern that Khalil, who had naturalized citizenship, does not deserve it, urging the government to take all necessary legal actions to remove him from the country.
Critics have labeled Khalil as fraudulent.
As discussions unfold, the murdered reporter’s alleged ties to Hamas remain a point of contention, as noted by the Israeli Defense Forces.
Some have described Khalil not as a hero, likening him instead to a romanticized figure—suggesting that his supporters believe he resonates with their struggle.
