Hasan Piker Defends Hamas Remarks on CNN as ADL Rebukes Streamer With 11 Million Followers
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 3
Hasan Piker Defends Hamas Remarks on CNN as ADL Rebukes Streamer With 11 Million Followers
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 3
Summary
CNN aired Hasan Piker defending past remarks that Palestinians have a right to "resist militarily," while saying he would not support all of Hamas's actions and acknowledging the group has committed war crimes.
Pressed on Hamas's anti-women and anti-LGBTQ positions, Piker said he did not view its domestic policies as the central issue, arguing Israel's occupation was Palestinians' overriding concern.
An April House resolution had already condemned Piker's rhetoric, citing his earlier claim that Hamas was "a thousand times better" than Israel and his statement that he would "vote for Hamas over Israel."
The ADL said Piker's comments amounted to support for a designated terrorist organization and criticized Democratic officials who appear with him; the AJC also warned that platforming such rhetoric risks normalizing extremism.
Piker has become a prominent voice on the left as democratic socialists gain influence, but his role remains divisive inside the party, with strategist James Carville recently saying one of them would have to leave.