A senior United Nations official sparked outrage this week by suggesting that Hamas is not a terrorist organization, renewing critics’ suspicions that the U.N. has a weakness, or at least a blind spot, on terrorists.
Martin GriffithsThe British diplomat, who previously served as UN special envoy for Yemen and is currently both UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, appeared on Sky News on Wednesday to discuss humanitarian concerns in Gaza and Israel’s war on terror. We discussed. .
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tell Sky News’ Yalda Hakim said the situation in Gaza amounted to the worst humanitarian crisis he had observed in his 50-year career, clearly worse than the massacre of up to 3 million people by the Red Khmers in Cambodia or the civil war. He said it was terrible. Officials have suggested that Israel’s ground operation in Rafah, Syria — where Israeli prisoners were recently released — will be disastrous, having claimed the lives of some 600,000 people.
Mr Hakim asked Mr Griffiths: “Do you think that Israel’s plan to exclude Hamas and exclude it from any future negotiations regarding Gaza is realistic?”
“I think that is very difficult,” the U.N. official responded. “As you said, I’ve worked with so many different terrorist and rebel groups. You know, Hamas is not a terrorist group to us. It’s a political movement.”
Griffith’s group may not consider Hamas a terrorist group, but much of the civilized world does.
Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyah, which means “Islamic Resistance Movement.”
according to The bloodthirsty Islamist group told the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that it is “committed to armed resistance to Israel and the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state to replace Israel.”
Hamas revised and slightly toned down in 2017
charter It aims to annihilate Israel and has indicated that it intends to make Jerusalem the capital of another Islamic state.
The Terrorism Charter states, “Not one stone of Jerusalem can be surrendered or abandoned.” “The measures taken by the occupiers of Jerusalem, such as Judaization, the construction of settlements, and the establishment of facts on the ground, are basically null and void.”
The Charter further states: “Resistance and jihad for the liberation of Palestine will remain a legitimate right, obligation and honor for our people and for every son and daughter of the Ummah…
Resisting occupation by all means and methods is a legitimate right guaranteed by divine law, international norms and laws. At the heart of these is armed resistance, which is seen as a strategic choice. ”
Hamas is responsible for countless attacks and terrorist plots against civilians and Israeli soldiers around the world, including in Germany and Denmark. In October 2023, Hamas terrorists massacred thousands of Israeli citizens along with dozens of American citizens. The group also took hundreds of hostages.
United States, United Nations
largest donorhas designated Hamas as a terrorist organization three times.
Matthew Levitt, a Hamas expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said:
Said The Voice of America’s original designation “predates the current terrorist list and was made during the peace process under the Clinton administration in 1995.”
The United States officially
recognized Hamas was established as a foreign terrorist organization on October 8, 1997, approximately 10 years after its founding. After the 9/11 attacks on the homeland, the United States again designated Hamas as a terrorist group when the Bush administration created a special global terrorist group.
“The simplest and most basic definition is the targeting of civilians for the purpose of bringing about social or political change,” Levitt said. “Personally, I would simplify it a bit more. This is about tactics. Terrorism is a tactic, and when you engage in this tactic of targeting civilians with the aim of bringing about social and political change, that act is It’s an act of terrorism.”
Relatively civilized countries that have designated Hamas as a terrorist group include the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, Argentina, Canada, and Japan.
Despite the Supreme Court’s attempt to annul the EU decision in 2014, the European Union nevertheless
maintained That Hamas, including Hamas Iz al-Din al-Qasem, is a terrorist organization.
Mr Griffiths, who does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization, told Mr Hakim: “I think it will be very difficult to eliminate these groups without a negotiated solution that includes their wishes. I can’t think of a direct example where a victory has been achieved.” The war was successful against well-entrenched groups. ”
Mr Griffiths said he could understand why it would be difficult for Israelis not to pursue the eradication of the terrorist organization, although it is difficult to imagine a Gaza without the influence of Hamas terrorism.
“I have seen the terrible things that happened to the Israelites. [on Oct. 7.] I have also met families of hostages. I believe I completely understand the trauma that it has caused,” Griffiths said, “but the safety and security of the people who will inevitably continue to be your neighbors in some way. If you want to stay safe, I might add, you need to build your relationship on some shared values. ”
In response to Griffith’s suggestion that Hamas is not a terrorist organization, the watchdog group Stop Antisemitism said:
write“I have no words.”
In response to this and other critics of his comments, Mr. Griffiths
I have written X says, “To be clear, Hamas is not on the list of groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations Security Council. I keep saying that their terrorist acts on the 7th are not that horrific and reprehensible. ”
The Israeli state’s official X account responded to this supposed explanation by saying, “To be clear, @UNReliefChief, you are an apologist for Hamas and your statements are an insult to all the victims of October 7th. It’s pathetic.” he responded.
israel war room
answered“Can you please explain *why* Hamas is not on the United Nations list of designated terrorist organizations? Because I can’t think of one good reason.”
The German Foreign Ministry rushed in.
repeat The EU “lists Hamas as a terrorist organization, and so do many other organizations,” he said.
Karoline Edstadler, Austria’s Minister for EU Affairs,
I got it.“The EU has listed Hamas as a terrorist organization for over 20 years. We have always seen Hamas as it is. There is no excuse for those who turned a blind eye before October 7. ”
Not only does the United Nations not recognize Hamas as a terrorist; It appears that they are working together with the group.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency was recently accused of being infiltrated by Hamas.new york times
report Israeli military officials reportedly provided U.S. officials with documents showing that approximately 10% of UNRWA personnel are members of Hamas.
UN Secretary-General: Gaza “worst humanitarian crisis” ever seen | UN Secretary-General Israel-Hamasyoutube.be
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