Hamas Leader Participates Virtually At Pro-Palestine Rally In Kerala, Sparks Controversy

A leader from the Hamas terrorist group, which launched an attack on Israel on 7 October, virtually took part in a rally organised by the Solidarity Youth Movement in Malappuram, Kerala on Friday (27 October).

The Solidarity Youth Movement is the youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

In a video, former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal was seen addressing the people virtually.

Mashal's virtual address at the rally drew criticism from K Surendran, the State president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He raised question on the Kerala Police and called for action to be taken against Mashal's participation.

Taking to X, Surendran said, "Hamas leader Khaled Mashel's virtual address at the Solidarity event in Malappuram is alarming. Where's Pinarayi Vijayan's Kerala Police ? Under the guise of 'Save Palestine,' they're glorifying Hamas, a terrorist organization, and its leaders as 'warriors.' This is unacceptable!"

Earlier on Friday, the BJP unit in Kerala criticised Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for participating in a rally organised by the Indian Union Muslim League in support of Palestine. The BJP labeled the event as "pro-Hamas."

Following the massive demonstration in Kozhikode where thousands of IUML supporters showed their support for the people of Palestine, BJP state president K Surendran expressed his worry that the ongoing conflict was being exploited to incite communal tensions within the state.

The IUML rally in Kozhikode was "pro-Hamas," and anti-national slogans had been raised throughout the programme, he alleged in a press conference.

The BJP leader alleged that Tharoor's involvement in the rally contradicts the country's established stance on the issue, especially considering his previous role as a UN diplomat.