Bassam Tawil: The Palestinian Voices the Media Won’t Let You Hear Meet the Palestinians who denounce Hamas - and will never be quoted in the western media

Frontpagemagazine ^ | February 29, 2024 | Hugh Fitzgerald

[SJackson]

Bassam Tawil is a journalist and Israeli Arab who has the curious habit of telling the truth about the Palestinians and Israel. He has become increasingly infuriated by the spectacle of privileged Westerners who, having no idea what the rule of Hamas has meant for ordinary Gazans, offer their support to the terror group in protest marches all over the Western world, from college campuses in America to Trafalgar Square, the Champs-Elysees, and Times Square. More on his cri de coeur about the testimony of anti-Hamas Palestinians whose voices are never transmitted by the Western media can be found here: “‘Why Doesn’t Hamas Go to Hell and Hide There?’: Other Voices from Gaza,” by Bassam Tawil, Gatestone Institute, February 12, 2024:

One can understand why Al-Jazeera and Arab media journalists are so anti-Israel that they do not want to provide a platform to any Palestinian to criticize Hamas. Yet, one cannot understand why the foreign media is turning a blind eye to the critical voices coming out from the Gaza Strip and Palestinians and Arabs living outside the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.

Why? These journalists are busy searching for stories that reflect badly only on Israel.

“Anyone who questioned Hamas’s motives or objectives has been painted as a cowardly collaborator. To demand better living conditions or more political liberties was akin to treason…. Others are reluctant to speak out against Hamas for fear of seeming disloyal or pro-Israel. If people outside of Gaza find it difficult to question the forced conformity, imagine how much more challenging it is for many inside the coastal enclave.” — Ahmed Fouad Al-Khatib, X (Twitter), January 6, 2024….

“The destruction caused by Hamas to Gaza will not end even if Israel’s war on Gaza does stop. The destruction will continue, as is evident from the ‘glorious’ history of our [Palestinian] organizations.” — Majdi Abd Al-Wahhab, Elaph, January 9, 2024.

Elaph is a Saudi publication; Majdi Abd Al-Wahhab lives in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi authorities have no objection to such attacks on Hamas, which they know is a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood that is opposed to all the monarchies in the Gulf.

These Palestinians whom Tawil quotes now live in the West or in Saudi Arabia, which is why they dare to post such anti-Hamas sentiments. They would not dare to do so if they continued to live in Gaza.

Not every Palestinian is impressed with Hamas. There are many in Gaza who hate the group for the economic and political misery it has inflicted on them. They have lived under Hamas’ dictatorial rule since 2007. They have seen how Hamas leaders have stolen vast sums from the aid that was supposed to go to the Palestinians in Gaza. They do not know the size of the Hamas theft, but only that it is tremendous. In fact, just three Hamas leaders, Khaled Meshaal, Mousa abu Marzouk, and Ismail Haniyeh — all of them living in luxury in Doha — have between them made off with $11 billion. If the Gazans knew about that colossal sum, there would be protests against Hamas all over Gaza. Hamas would, of course, suppress these incipient uprisings with live fire. And if Gazans were on social media to express their anger with Hamas because of what its October 7 attacks have brought down upon their heads, with an implacable and united Israel now determined to pull up Hamas, root and branch, they would be risking their lives. A few in Gaza — mostly elderly women who feel they haven’t anything more to lose — can be seen on YouTube denouncing the terror group for all the misery it has caused for Gazans; their age and their sex have so far protected them.

But what maddens Bassam Tawil is that those Palestinians who, like Tawil, denounce Hamas, are almost never quoted in the Western media. Some of them, like Ahmed Fouad al-Khatib and Majdi al-Wahhab, provide their full names to their anti-Hamas posts. Why are the denunciations of Hamas by brave Palestinians not being quoted by, given interviews with, made much of by, Western journalists? Why are Western journalists protecting Hamas by not reporting on the most devastating criticism of all — that which comes from fellow Palestinians? When will we see CNN interview Bassam Tawil, or Ahmed Fouad al-Kharib, or Mosab Hassan Yousef (“The Green Prince”), the son of a Hamas co-founder? Why are they brought to the world’s attention not by Western journalists, but only when Bassam Tawil, or Khaled Abu Toameh, manage to do so?

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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[PIF]

Taqyyia

[rlmorel]

To me, actions do speak louder than words, and I will not criticize any Palestinian who speaks out against Hamas.

And I fully understand the “Snitches Get Stiches” attitude they must live under.

But someone...somewhere...had to see these preparations going on in Gaza. Someone could have said something. But nobody did.

And that speaks louder than words. Words are cheap.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[nopardons]

BTTT

[Thistledew]

Scene:

A young journalistic type person asks “As a moderate Palestinian, can I get your opinion on the current middle eastern crisis and the rule of Hamas over the people of Gaza?” as he stands holding a microphone near the ground, over the freshly dug dirt of an unmarked grave.

End Scene.