During a tense interview with CNN, anti-Israel protester Mahmoud Khalil consistently refused to condemn Hamas. He argued that the repeated questioning of his views on the terrorist group was unwarranted.
Khalil, a vocal Palestinian activist who has been detained for over three months by the Trump administration due to his involvement in protests at Columbia University, labeled the persistent questioning from co-anchor Pamela Brown as “absurd” and hypocritical.
“Do you specifically condemn Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the US, and the events of October 7?” Brown pressed him during his appearance on “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”
Despite repeated inquiries, Khalil evaded directly blaming Hamas, stating, “It is not Hamas.” Brown interrupted him, asking once again if he would reject “Hamas in particular.”
“No, I’m quite clear in my stance—I’m straightforward in that part,” Khalil reacted, visibly frustrated, calling the question “selective anger.”
He continued by stating, “It’s dishonest for Palestinians to be questioned on Hamas when they are suffering from actions like those taken by Israel. They won’t condemn the killing of 260 Palestinians on October 6,” he added.
Khalil expressed disdain for the “selective anger” directed at him, asserting that it unjustly ignores the broader context of violence. He emphasized that justifying the killing of civilians ignores the underlying issues that lead to such tragedies.
Brown countered his claims regarding the situation on October 7, suggesting that the Trump administration showed sympathy for Hamas while Khalil was studying at an Ivy League school, implying her questions were warranted given his responses.
Khalil maintained that he was merely protesting against the ongoing war in Gaza. “What I’m fighting for as a Palestinian is to halt the murders in my homeland. That’s who I am,” he stated.
He dismissed the notion that his responses were warranting further accusations, calling such inquiries “dishonest and absurd” and emphasizing that they wouldn’t lead to any substantial dialogue.
The interview culminated with Blitzer attempting to wrap up the escalating back-and-forth.
Khalil has faced legal action since his arrest by immigration officials on March 8, spending 104 days in detention while the Trump administration sought to deport him, alleging ties to Hamas.
Now suing the federal government for $20 million over claims of false imprisonment and a smear campaign labeling him an anti-Semite, Khalil faced renewed criticism following this interview.
As previously mentioned, Khalil’s refusal to blame Hamas has drawn sharp reactions, with critics pointing to his self-portrayal as an anti-Semitic through his conduct and rhetoric. The Trump administration defended its actions as being within legal boundaries concerning individuals who had supported violence or terrorism.
