Hamas distances itself from official's call for Palestinians to 'kill Jews'

Hamas politburo member Fathi Hammad made the comments last week

Hamas politburo member Fathi Hammad, pictured in 2016, has encouraged Palestinians across the globe to kill Jews, drawing outrage from both Israeli and Palestinian officials as well as a UN envoy. AFP

Gaza's ruling militia group Hamas is distancing itself from violent anti-Semitic comments made by a senior official after an outcry from Palestinians.

On Friday, Fathi Hammad, a Hamas politburo member, urged Palestinians in the diaspora to kill Jews during a speech at the weekly protests along the buffer zone with Israel.

“You have Jews everywhere and we must attack every Jew on the globe by way of slaughter and killing, if God permits,” said Mr Hammad, who has made similar comments before.

After widespread condemnation, Hamas issued a rare public criticism of Mr Hammad’s remarks, saying that its religion does not permit such behaviour.

“These statements do not represent the movement’s official positions and consistent, adopted policies that stipulate that our conflict is with the occupation, which is occupying our land and sullying our holy sites, and not with Jews around the world or with Judaism as a religion,” Hamas said on its website.

Mr Hammad’s comments drew broad condemnation from Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank and leaders worldwide.

“The just values of the Palestinian cause includes love for freedom, justice and equality,” Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s Executive Committee, tweeted on Monday.

“The repugnant statement of Hamas leader Mr Fathi Hammad about Jews doesn’t represent any of them. Religion shouldn’t be used for political purposes.”

Hamas’s charter, published decades ago, calls for Israel’s destruction and uses anti-Semitic language.

In 2017, Hamas issued an addendum that its conflict is with “the Zionist project, not with the Jews because of their religion”, yet the old charter remains.

The EU and US have designated Hamas a terrorist group.

Israel has led a siege of the Gaza Strip since 2007 when Hamas ousted the western-backed Palestinian Authority, dominated by its rival Fatah.

Critics of Hamas and supporters of Israel’s policy often point to its violent comments against Israelis and Jews as justification for continuing the blockade to squeeze out Hamas.