Nihad Awad, the executive director of CAIR spoke at the American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) convention in Chicago on November 24, 2023, saying that he was happy to see the people of Gaza "break the siege" on October 7. He said that the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense, while Israel does not have this right. Awad continued to say that people who feel bad for the people of Gaza "don't understand the equation," because the Gazans were victorious. Video from the convention was posted on the YouTube channel of AMP. Another participant in the panel session titled "Gaza in Context" was Osama Abu Irshaid, national director of AMP.
To view the clip of CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad, click here or below:
"I Was Happy To See [Gazans] Breaking The Siege... And Walk Free Into Their Land... Israel, As An Occupying Power, Does Not Have That Right To Self-Defense"
Nihad Awad: "The people of Gaza only decided to break the siege, the walls of the concentration camp, on October 7. 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 land, which they were not allowed to walk in. And yes, the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense, have the right to defend themselves, and yes, Israel, as an occupying power, does not have that right to self-defense.
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"Gaza became the liberation source, the inspiration for people.
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"Gaza transformed many minds around the world, including people who are not Muslim. What kind of faith do these people have? They are thankful, they are not afraid.
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"Israel Did Not Scare [The Gazans] Because They Knew Their Heaven Is In Gaza, And If They Would Like To Die, They Will Go To Another Heaven; That Is The Faith Of The People Of Gaza"
"Israel did not scare them, because they knew their heaven is in Gaza, and if they would like to die, they will go to another heaven. That is the faith of the people of Gaza. That is why Gaza and the people of Gaza were able to transform everyone who is watching – they have learned from these people. Those who felt bad for Gaza – they don't understand the equation. Those who thought that Gazans are less than those who can help them, they are mistaken. They are mistaken. The Gazans were victorious."
