Colombian anti-Israel activists refuse to blame Hamas in CNN interview
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Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil appears to have refused to explicitly denounce terrorist group Hamas, and instead had trouble with the Palestinian light-form “selective denunciation” during an interview on Tuesday.
In response to a question from CNN’s Pamela Brown, he said, “It appeared that Halil would try to avoid denounce the terrorist organization, not just on the actions of October 7, but also on whether to specifically denounce Hamas, the designated US terrorist organization.
“I condemn the murder of all civilians and a complete halt,” Halil told Brown.
Brown was inserted between Halil’s answers and asked him, “But would you specifically denounce Hamas?”
The newly released Mahmoud Khalil was found in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University
Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil appears to have refused to explicitly denounce Hamas, instead harboring the problem with the Palestinian light-form “selective denunciation.” (RashidUmarAbbasi on Fox News Digital)
“I’m very clear in blaming all civilians. In that part, I’m very straightforward to my position,” Halil said. “But it’s dishonest for Palestinians right now for Israel, to ask about denounce Hamas.”
Halil is a graduate student at Columbia University and was released on bail from the Immigration Detention Center in June. order US District Judge Michael Fabiartz said it was “very, very rare” to detain a US legal resident, saying he had not been charged with a violent crime or that he was a possible flight risk.
He was arrested in Colombia in March for his anti-Israel activities on campus. The immigration judge ruled He could be removed from a country that, based on a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said his campus protests were not in line with the interests of US foreign policy.
The Department of Homeland Security also states that Khalil It was intentionally not revealed His employment at the Syrian office at the British Embassy in Beirut was when he applied for a permanent US residency.
Instead of denouncement of Hamas, Halil spoke about violence against the Palestinians.
Mahmoud Khalil was arrested in Colombia in March. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)
“We are not condemning October 6th, when 260 Palestinians were killed by Israel on October 7th,” Halil said. “So I hate the selective rage of this accusation, because this doesn’t lead to constructive conversations. And this is like what we want to deal with is the root cause of why it happened, and that no one can justify.”
Brown pushed Halil and asked, “If you’re going to blame Hamas because the Hamas administration claimed you were Hamas sympathizers?”
“That’s what I did,” Halil said. “That’s what I do now as a Palestinian, as a human being, is to seek a halt of murders in my home country. That coincides with who I am. I am a firm believer in international law and human rights, and all my values come from that point.
“It’s just for me… it’s dishonest and absurd to ask such questions when literally 62,000 Palestinians are killed by Israel. So I’m not very involved in questions about such accusations.
“It shouldn’t be hard to condemn the heinous terrorist organizations responsible for the brutal acts of rape, murder and torture of innocent people, but apparently for Halil.”
“While in the US, Halil has been consistently involved in behaviours that are detrimental to the interests of American foreign policy, including ongoing support for Hamas on campus and the continued support of Jewish students. I have to explain why all Democratic politicians who embrace Halil support people who can’t even make up for fear,” Jackson added.
Fox News Digital I contacted Halil’s lawyer for comment.
The Department of Homeland Security also said it has not purposely made clear that Halil is employed by the Syrian embassy of the British Embassy in Beirut. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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