Overview
- In a new Forward interview, Mahmoud Khalil said he could not confirm that Hamas intentionally targeted Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.
- In the same conversation, he criticized Hamas, described a vision of a free Palestine that includes Jewish citizens with equal rights, and called kidnapping and shooting civilians unacceptable.
- He said not all protesters support Hamas and noted many show affection for the PFLP, which the United States lists as a terrorist group for past hijackings and attacks on civilians.
- His immigration case remains active as the Trump administration seeks to rearrest and deport him after a judge found he willfully misrepresented parts of his green card application.
- Reaction has broken along ideological lines, with the Washington Free Beacon highlighting his Oct. 7 comments and the Forward publishing both the interview and an opinion piece arguing his reassurances fall short.