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3 months ago
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Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student controversially detained by ICE earlier this year before he was released on the order of a federal judge, repeatedly refused to condemn Hamas during an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown on Tuesday.
After blaming his battles with the Trump administration over his legal status in the country on the “weaponization of anti-Semitism,” Brown asked: “Do you specifically condemn Hamas, a designated terrorist organization in the United States, not just for their actions on October 7?”
“I condemn the killing of all Pal-, of all civilians, full stop,” replied Khalil. “And, but what I don’t want to get into is-”
“But do you condemn Hamas, specifically?” repeated Brown.
“No, I am very clear with condemning all civilians. I’m very straight in my position in that part. But it’s disingenuous to ask about condemning Hamas while Palestinians are the ones being starved now by Israel. It’s not condemning October 6, where 260 Palestinians were killed by Israel before October 7. So I hate this selective outrage of condemnation because this is not, this wouldn’t lead to a constructive conversation. And this is also, like what we want to deal with is the root causes of why that happened. And it’s no way anyone can justify the killing of civilians,” answered Khalil.
The anchor and activist continued:
BROWN: Just to be clear, Mahmoud, we did ask about-, you know we’ve talked at length about your views, of course, on the Palestinians. But it is fair to ask you about whether you condemn Hamas because the Trump administration has claimed that you are a Hamas sympathizer. So it’s very important to actually ask that question in this broad conversation.
KHALIL: Yeah, I simply asked and protested the war in Palestine. That’s what I did. That’s my duty as a Palestinian, as a human being right now, is to ask for the stop of the killing in my home country. And that’s consistent with who I am. I’m a firm believer in international law and human rights. And all my values come from that point. It’s just like, to me, it’s always, as I said, disingenuous and absurd to ask such questions when literally 62,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel. That’s why I wouldn’t really engage much into such questions on condemnation or not. Because selective condemnations is not, wouldn’t get us anywhere. It’s just like hypocrite, to be honest.
Blitzer then swept in to rescue Khalil from Brown’s line of inquiry.
“Mahmoud Khalil, you were very clear more than a year ago when you and I had an interview here on CNN in condemning anti-Semitism, and you were very strong in your words at that time as well,” he said. “Mahmoud Khalil, good luck to you, good luck to your family. I know you have a new son and you finally have a chance to meet with your son. Congratulations on that, and we will stay in touch with you.”
Watch above via CNN.
