Council on American-Islamic Relations Co-Founder Says He Was ‘Happy’ on October 7
Council on American-Islamic Relations co-founder and executive director Nihad Awad said that he was “happy” on October 7 during a speech in which he also asserted that Israel does not have the right to defend itself in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on its civilian populations.
“The people of Gaza only decided to break the siege, the walls of the concentration camp on October 7th. And yes, I was happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land and walk free into their lands that they were not allowed to walk in,” declared Awad at the American Muslims for Palestine Convention in November. “And yes, the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense, had the right to defend themselves. And yes, Israel as an occupying power does not have that right to self-defense.”
He expanded on the “inspiration” he and others have drawn from the attack and its aftermath later:
Gaza became the liberation source, the inspiration for people. Gaza transformed many minds around the world, including people who are not Muslim. What kind of faith these people have. They are thankful, they’re not afraid, and Israel did not scare them. Because they knew that their heaven is in Gaza and they, if they would like to die, they will go to another heaven. That is the faith of the people of Gaza. And that is why Gaza and the people of Gaza were able to transform everyone who was watching. They have learned from these people. And those who felt bad for Gaza, they don’t understand the equation. Those who thought that the Gazans are less than those who can help them, they are mistaken. They are mistaken. The Gazans were the victorious.
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad at AMP Convention: I Was Happy to See the People of Gaza Break the Siege on October 7; They Were Victorious; the People of Gaza Have the Right to Self-Defense – Israel Does Not #Hamas #Gaza #Palestinians @CAIRNational @NihadAwad pic.twitter.com/WDbSRjFJo0
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) December 7, 2023
Well over 1,000 were murdered during the October 7 attack, which also saw Hamas terrorists rape, torture, and kidnap hundreds.
In a statement, Awad said that his comments were taken out of context.
“I have again and again condemned the violence against Israeli civilians on Oct. 7th,” insisted Awad. “The average Palestinians who briefly walked out of Gaza and set foot on their ethnically cleansed land in a symbolic act of defiance against the blockade and stopped there without engaging in violence were within their rights under international law; the extremists who went on to attack civilians in southern Israel were not.”
