Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil dodged condemning the Hamas terrorist group Tuesday, saying he dislikes “selective outrage.”
Khalil was arrested in March amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on college protests supporting Palestine in the Gaza war. He was detained for 104 days at a detention center in Louisiana.
While appearing on CNN Tuesday, Khalil was asked whether he condemns Hamas, to which he told anchor Pamela Brown that he has been “very clear” in opposing the “killing of all civilians.”
“It‘s disingenuous to ask about condemning Hamas while Palestinians are the ones being starved now by Israel. It‘s not condemning October 6th, where 260 Palestinians were killed by Israel before October 7th,” Khalil said.
“So, I hate this selective outrage of condemnation because this wouldn‘t lead to a constructive conversation,” Khalil said.
Brown pressed Khalil again on her question, saying it is “very important” to ask it since the Trump administration views him as a “Hamas sympathizer.” Khalil said he “simply” protested the war in Gaza, reiterating how “selective condemnation wouldn‘t get us anywhere.”
‘AOC FUNDS GENOCIDE’: GRAFFITI DEFACES CAMPAIGN OFFICE AS AOC REBUKES ‘LIES’ OVER ISRAEL VOTE
The United States Department of Homeland Security shared a clip of Khalil’s comments on X, saying he wouldn’t condemn Hamas “because he IS a terrorist sympathizer.” The department also noted that Khalil’s detainment was within the Trump administration’s authority.
Lawyers for Khalil filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in July for being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The suit seeks $20 million in damages. However, Khalil said he would abandon his quest for restitution if the administration apologised.