"The overwhelming majority of Palestinians are not Hamas," said US President Biden in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
"I won't mince words. The overwhelming majority of Palestinians are not Hamas. And Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. In fact, they're also suffering as a result of Hamas' terrorism. We need to be clear-eyed about that reality," said the president in his full post.
I won't mince words.The overwhelming majority of Palestinians are not Hamas. And Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.In fact, they're also suffering as a result of Hamas' terrorism. We need to be clear-eyed about that reality.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 22, 2024
Over the course of the war there has been much discourse in Israel and around the world about how representative Hamas is of the Palestinians in Gaza, as well as how many Gazans support Hamas, or even how much of the death toll in Gaza is actually Hamas operatives.
Conversations on Gazan support and involvement with Hamas have also grown exponentially over the past few weeks, due to the imminent, but unclear ground operation that is expected to take place in Rafah.
Key figures respond to the president on social media
The president's post garnered responses from some public figures who didn't agree with his message.
Notably, Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli responded, saying "Dear Mr. President, The overwhelming majority of Palestinians express strong support for Hamas. In fact, a survey conducted by the Palestinian research institute AWRAD revealed that 84% of respondents in the West Bank strongly endorsed the massacre and atrocities of Oct. 7."
Dear Mr. President, The overwhelming majority of Palestinians express strong support for Hamas. In fact, a survey conducted by the Palestinian research institute @_AWRAD_ revealed that 84% of respondents in the West Bank strongly endorsed the massacre and atrocities of Oct. 7. pic.twitter.com/HldRnuACvL
— עמיחי שיקלי - Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) February 23, 2024
Additionally, former Miss Iraq and current human rights advocate and ally to Israel, Sarah Idan, weighed in, saying, "Tell that to the Palestinians in my inbox telling me Hamas are heroes and are freedom fighters…"
Tell that to the Palestinians in my inbox telling me Hamas are heroes and are freedom fighters…
— Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) February 23, 2024
There were also pro-Palestinian commenters in the post who also had issue with the president's statement. One account commented, saying. "Why are you still arming Israel then?" and another saying, "Says the man that just vetoed another humanitarian ceasefire. How many is that now?"