TEL AVIV — The Saudi newspaper Al Riyadh has become a target of anger for many Hamas supporters in the Palestinian territories and across the Arab world after it labeled the movement a terrorist organization.
In an article about an official Hamas delegation that participated in the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the headline and text called Hamas a terrorist organization. “Delegation of terrorist Hamas movement attends Rouhani’s swearing in,” read the headline.
Due to significant anger from many in the Arab world, particularly on social media, the newspaper was quick to remove the article. However, a screenshot of it went viral online and drew many responses, most of which were angry. Hamas is a terrorist group responsible for deadly suicide bombings, shootings and rocket attacks targeting Israeli civilians.
The removal of the article from the newspaper also received significant coverage in Palestinian and pan-Arab media.
Hamas released a special statement condemning the newspaper, saying, “We express our deep condemnation of labeling the movement as a terrorist organization in the Al Riyadh newspaper. This is a dangerous description that tarnishes the name our people, our struggle, our history and constitutes an insult to the resistance, which is an arrow head in the defense of Palestine and the entire nation. The description only serves the enemies of Palestine.”
The article also drew anger from social media users and influential figures in the Arab world.
Kuwaiti member of parliament Waleed Al-Tabtabie wrote, “Those hostile to Hamas have no right to criticize its participation in Rouhani’s swearing in. Yes, those who support it have the right to criticize its shameful participation at an hour when the blood of those killed by Iran has not yet dried.”
Jordanian-Palestinian author and commentator Yasser Zaatreh wrote, “The description of the Hamas movement as a terrorist organization by the newspaper Al Riyadh doesn’t represent the prevailing opinion of the respected Saudi nation. The fact that the spokesman of the occupation army celebrated this publication is cheap and predictable exploitation at the same time.” Zaatreh was referring to comments by the IDF’s Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee, who praised the Saudis for labeling Hamas a terrorist movement.
Qatari journalist Abdullah al-Athbah also used the support of the IDF spokesman to attack the Saudi newspaper, writing, “Avichay embarrassed the newspaper and forced it to remove the article.”
Even in Saudi Arabia there were those who condemned labeling Hamas a terrorist organization. Saudi activist Turkey Shalhoub wrote, “Avichay Adraee celebrated yesterday the labeling of Hamas as a terrorist movement by the Al Riyadh newspaper! Allah, we are innocent of what the newspaper did and of anyone who supports this dirty report.”
But there were also those who expressed support for the newspaper, including Saudi activist Muhammad al-Basheiri, who wrote, “Hamas is a terrorist organization. It is part of the fingernails of Iran defending Israel in order to ensure its continued existence in the Gaza Strip. It spreads the Shi’ite sect and operates with the funds of Iran and Qatar.”
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