It is hypocritical to condemn the Islamic State terrorist group but not Hamas, which is just as evil, said US Senator Harry Reid.
Hamas is an “evil organization” on par with the Islamic State terrorist group, yet some people refuse to condemn them equally, US Senator Harry Reid said in a speech on the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against his country.
Reid addressed the US Senate the day after President Barack Obama said his government would intensify its military actions against the Islamic State (IS or ISIS) terrorist group. In a strongly worded speech, Reid described Hamas brutality and promised that he and his country would stand with Israel.
Hamas and ISIS Vicious, Extreme
“ISIS is a vile mob of fanatics whose butchery knows no bounds,” said Reid. “I’m confident that President Obama’s targeted action will degrade and destroy this menace. But there is another evil organization in the world today that, like ISIS, has zero regard for humanity….
“I’m talking about Hamas. Hamas and ISIS are both vicious, corrupt, hateful, evil groups and both are extreme, outrageous, irrational, excessive, harsh and radical. Yet, for some reason, Hamas’s brutality doesn’t elicit the same horror from the international community as ISIS. How can that be?”
Unlike ISIS, Hamas has “a narrow, ghastly focus: the destruction of the state of Israel,” he said.
Hamas stole materials intended for the citizens of Gaza and used them to build terror tunnels into Israel; fired thousands of missiles at Israeli civilian targets; deliberately provoked Israel into taking military defensive action; used its own citizens as human shields, and committed brutal executions, Reid said.
US and Israel: ‘Unshakeable Bond’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama, June 2014 (Photo: Avi Ohayon/Flash90)
“These are the fanatics that Israel faces every day: a terrorist organization as violent and as extreme as any other on the face of the planet…. [Yet] there are those who refuse to condemn Hamas as they would ISIS. The hypocrisy is stunning. Those who reject tyranny, corruption and terrorism should denounce Hamas.
“All those who honor peace and sovereignty should stand for Israel. I stand with Israel. The United States of America stands with Israel. President Barack Obama and Congress continue to affirm America’s unshakeable bond with Israel, and our strong support for the security and safety of its people.”
Reid concluded by pledging that he and his colleagues would support Israel’s right to defend itself and condemn Hamas “for the depraved, horrid, repugnant terrorist organization that it is.”
Author: United with Israel Staff