New york city: The Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, was a 'desperate attempt' by Palestinians to "break the cycle" and capture global attention, according to pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
According to Anadolu Agency, Khalil described the attack as a frightening moment in the Palestinian struggle, expressing his inability to sleep for days following the event. He shared these thoughts with New York Times columnist Ezra Klein during a discussion about the cross-border raid executed by Palestinian group Hamas in October. The raid was succeeded by sustained attacks on Gaza by Israel, resulting in over 61,000 casualties, severe devastation, and a looming famine in the enclave.
When asked to clarify his comments, Khalil, who became widely known after being detained for over three months by the Trump administration due to his activism, explained that the Israeli government has been neglecting Palestinians. He criticized their focus on deals with Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords, which he believes sidesteps the Palestinian issue.
Khalil highlighted the increasing violence leading up to the attack, noting that as of Oct. 6, Israeli forces and settlers had killed over 200 Palestinians, including more than 40 children. He described the attack as an effort to 'break the cycle' in which Palestinian voices remain unheard.
Columnist Klein acknowledged Khalil's previous denunciation of civilian deaths while pointing out that the Oct. 7 operation targeted civilians, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities. Khalil reaffirmed his stance against targeting civilians and called for an international independent investigation to ensure accountability under international law.
Khalil emphasized that Palestinians have explored all forms of resistance, including nonviolent methods, only to face violence from Israel. He referenced the 2018-2019 Great March of Return, where numerous participants were either killed or injured by Israeli forces.
He reiterated that there is no justification for the killing of civilians, underlining the importance of applying international law consistently.
Khalil's arrest on March 8 in New York City led to his transfer to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. The Trump administration accused him of antisemitism, a claim he refutes. Released on bail on June 20 after a judge questioned the constitutionality of the law used for his detention, Khalil is now pursuing a $20 million lawsuit against the federal government over his detention.