Mahmoud Khalil declines to condemn Hamas in CNN interview, calling question "silly"
In a CNN interview with Kaitlyn Collins, Mahmoud Khalil again declined to condemn Hamas, calling the question a "silly" litmus test. Two right-leaning outlets responded with criticism and argued he should be deported.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Mahmoud Khalil was interviewed on CNN, where he was asked whether he condemns Hamas and declined to say so, calling it a "silly question". Hot AirR “Mahmoud Khalil was on CNN yesterday and was asked about his ongoing unwillingness to condemn Hamas. Khalil called it a "silly question."” Read at Hot Air ↗ Washington ExaminerR “was asked by CNN the other day if he would condemn Hamas. He, of course, would not, calling the question “silly” and “disingenuous.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1According to the transcript Hot Air quoted, CNN's Kaitlyn Collins noted the administration had pointed to his earlier refusal to condemn Hamas; Khalil replied that officials "are not interested in my views about Hamas" and that the question is used as a litmus test. Hot AirR “Khalil: Because they are not interested in my views about Hamas. This question is being used as a litmus test.” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1Khalil said that if one answers yes or no "it's black and white", and he asked why interviewers do not ask American officials whether they condemn the US government for killing over 80 girls in Iran, or Israeli officials about Gaza. Hot AirR “Khalil: Why don't you ask an American official if they condemn the US government for killing over 80 girls in Iran or any Israeli official for crimes in Gaza.” Read at Hot Air ↗
Right · 1He also said the administration is trying to dehumanize him and that he refuses to answer such questions. Hot AirR “Khalil: This administration is trying to dehumanize me. And these types of questions are, to me, are silly questions.” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1Hot Air's John Sexton disputed Khalil's comparison, citing a preliminary investigation that found the Feb. 28 strike on a school in Iran resulted from a US targeting mistake using outdated Defense Intelligence Agency data. Sexton put the death toll as high as 156, including an estimated 47 girls, and said the findings are not final. Hot AirR “The Feb. 28 strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school building was the result of a targeting mistake by the U.S. military”“The total number of people killed has been estimated to be as high as 156 including parents, teachers and students. The total number of girls killed is believed to be 47.” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1Both outlets argue Khalil supports Hamas and should be deported. Hot Air says the visa application asks about support for terrorism, and that Khalil "has sued everyone around him to delay" his departure. Hot AirR “This “silly” question (do you support terrorism) is explicitly asked on visa applications to visit or live in the United States.”“Khalil should be leaving soon but has sued everyone around him to delay that outcome.” Read at Hot Air ↗
Right · 1In a Washington Examiner opinion column, David Harsanyi wrote that Khalil is being deported for lying on his application, though he was initially picked up by ICE agents for threatening US foreign policy, and that the process has taken years and likely millions of dollars in legal fees. He called Khalil's group Columbia University Apartheid Divest violent, and says Khalil is Algerian. Washington ExaminerR “Khalil is being deported for lying on his application, though he was initially picked up by ICE agents for threatening U.S. foreign policy.”“it’s taken years and likely millions of dollars in legal fees to deport Khalil and Mahdawi.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Harsanyi also notes that the State Department designates Hamas a terrorist organization, and he supports Khalil's right to speak freely but says there is no unfettered right to be in the US or to citizenship. Washington ExaminerR “Hamas is designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization for, among other things, murdering Americans.”“there is no unfettered right to be in the U.S.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both right-leaning outlets treat Khalil's refusal as evidence he supports Hamas and as grounds for deportation; Hot Air line-by-line rebuts the interview, the Examiner offers an opinion column on immigration.
- Emphasis
- The litmus-test nature of the question, Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack, visa-application questions about terrorism, and the length and cost of deportation proceedings.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither gives Khalil's full reasoning beyond selected quotes, nor any response from his side, and no left or centre outlet is in the coverage.
- Charged language
- “Pro-terrorist activist”“slippery”“Palestinism”“depraved ideology”“suicidal”
- For example
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“This guy is so slippery. It's really worth going through his answer to consider it carefully.” — Hot Air
“Pro-terrorist activist Mahmoud Khalil was asked by CNN the other day if he would condemn Hamas.” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Khalil was asked on CNN whether he condemns Hamas and did not do so.
- Khalil called the question "silly" and said it is not black and white.
Mahmoud Khalil person
Declines to condemn Hamas, calling the question a silly litmus test used against Palestinians, and says the administration is trying to dehumanize him.
“This administration is trying to dehumanize me.” — Hot Air
CNN organisation
CNN's Kaitlyn Collins pressed Khalil on why he did not condemn Hamas and asked what the litmus test is.
“Collins: What's the litmus test?” — Hot Air
Hamas organisation
Described by both outlets as a terrorist group responsible for the 7 October 2023 attack; Hot Air says it killed Israeli civilians and took hostages.
“Hamas is designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization” — Washington Examiner
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Hot AirR ·
Mahmoud Khalil Tells CNN Why He Won't Condemn Hamas
Critical Quotes the interview and rebuts Khalil's answers, arguing the question is a fair litmus test and that he supports Hamas.
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Washington ExaminerR · · Opinion
America owes Mahmoud Khalil nothing
Alarmist Opinion column arguing Khalil's refusal shows he should be deported and that the US should block such entrants.
- 6 Oct 23:00 First Hot AirR Mahmoud Khalil Tells CNN Why He Won't Condemn Hamas
- 7 Oct 18:06 +19h 7m Washington ExaminerR America owes Mahmoud Khalil nothing Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.