Columbia Alumni Discusses Inevitability of Hamas Attacks
Mahmoud Halil, an activist and Columbia University alum, stated on “Ezra Klein Show” that Hamas’ attacks on Israel were something that, perhaps, could be seen as unavoidable, especially on October 7, 2023.
During this assault, Hamas killed around 1,200 civilians and took more than 240 hostages, which ultimately sparked the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Halil expressed a sense of dread on the show, mentioning, “I was scared that I had to reach this moment in the Palestinian struggle,” prompting host Ezra Klein to request further clarification.
Reflecting on his experiences, Halil mentioned his time interning at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in New York, focusing on the West Bank and Gaza. “The situation has become unsustainable,” he noted, pointing to an Israeli government that appears indifferent to the plight of Palestinians.
He remarked, “They’re keen on making deals with Saudi Arabia and seem quite content with their agreements, disregarding the Palestinians entirely.” According to documents viewed by the Wall Street Journal, the Hamas attack was aimed at derailing peace talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Halil highlighted the increasing violence leading up to the attacks, noting that, by October 6th, over 200 Palestinians had already been killed, including more than 40 children, suggesting that such an explosive moment seemed, sadly, inevitable.
His activism came into the spotlight earlier this year when the Department of Homeland Security detained him. There was pushback against this move, with critics stating he was unfairly targeted as a member of a group that supports Hamas, leading to the loss of his green card.
Following significant opposition from Democrats and immigration advocates, a federal judge in New Jersey ordered his release from detention in Louisiana back in June.
Halil had come to the U.S. in 2022 on a student visa and had been active in protests at Columbia, where he led a group named “Apartheid Divest.” Some critics have accused the group of harboring anti-Israel sentiments and supporting Hamas openly.
In a July CNN interview, when asked to denounce Hamas, Halil refrained. While he condemned the killing of civilians, he suggested it was somewhat disingenuous to expect criticism of Hamas while Palestinians are suffering due to the ongoing conflict.
