Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania accused The New York Times of spreading Hamas propaganda after the paper quoted one of the terrorist organization's most senior officials, Khaled Meshal, in a new report on Tuesday.
of The Times articleThe story, headlined “Hamas survived the war in Israel, now it hopes to thrive again in Gaza,” centred around an interview with Meshal, who argued that Hamas was “winning the war and will play a decisive role in Gaza's future,” despite Israel's promises to eradicate the terror group that killed 1,200 people on October 7.
The Times reported that the two-hour interview took place in the living room of Meshal's home in Doha, Qatar, in which he “offered rare insight into the thinking of Hamas' senior leaders.”
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AMMAN, JORDAN – SEPTEMBER 4: Khaled Mashal, leader of the Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, on September 4, 2016 in Amman, Jordan. (Photo by Jordan Pickus/Getty Images)
“In the interview, Meshal made it clear that Hamas leaders are in no rush to conclude a ceasefire with Israel at any cost and will not abandon their main demand: an end to the war and Israeli withdrawal,” the Times reported.
Fetterman posted a screenshot of the headline on X, accusing the outlet of giving one of Hamas' most senior figures a platform to spread the group's message.
“I have no idea why the New York Times is featuring this terrorist propaganda. I have no doubt that Israel will hold him accountable,” the congressman wrote. “Hamas is no different from the Nazis of World War II, and I fully support Israel's determination to neutralize them.”
The Times reported that the US has accused Meshal and other Hamas leaders of “playing a central role in planning and executing the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.” Hamas is designated a terrorist organisation by both the US and Israel.
Still, the paper quoted Meshal as saying the terror group was “gaining the upper hand” and “remaining unwavering” while pushing the Israeli military to “a state of attrition.”
“Hamas's logic is simple: To win simply means to survive, and for now, at least, the organization has succeeded in doing so, even if greatly weakened,” the Times wrote.
Former Hamas Political Bureau chief Khaled Mashal speaks during the Baitul Maqdis Opinion Leaders Forum in Istanbul on October 12, 2018. (Photo by Momen Faiz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Meshal told the paper that Biden's move from initially supporting eliminating Hamas to calling for a ceasefire in the region sends a message that the US is “effectively endorsing” the terrorist organisation.
“Despite Hamas's heavy losses, including many senior commanders killed by Israel, Meshal said he was confident the group would play a leading role in Gaza after the war. He dismissed the U.S.-Israeli alternative of governing Gaza without Hamas,” the Times reported.
03/07/2024: Hamas terrorists in the West Bank. ((Nasser Ishtayyeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images))
“All their illusions about filling the void are now a thing of the past,” Mashal said.
Many in Gaza resent Hamas for the Oct. 7 massacre that sparked full-scale war in the strip, The Times reported. But Meshal “dismissed criticism of Hamas' decision, saying Palestinians who criticize Hamas are in the minority,” according to The Times.
“He acknowledged that the attack caused enormous destruction but said it was the 'price' that Palestinians must pay to gain their freedom.”
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“As a Palestinian, my responsibility is to fight and resist until liberation,” he told The Times.
The New York Times did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
