Palestinian Cleric Known for Jihadi and Antisemitic Discourse Speaks out against the Culture of Death

Palestinian cleric Imad Hamtu participated in a Palestine TV panel dedicated to the alleged rise in suicide cases in Hamas-controlled Gaza. On the show, which aired on February 14, 2016, Sheikh Hamatu called to change the “death for the sake of Allah is our loftiest aspiration” motto. "Why can't our loftiest aspiration be life for the sake of Allah?" he asked, adding: “We want to live! Why do we always think in terms of the nihilistic logic of death? ” It is noteworthy, however, that Sheikh Hamatu has repeatedly spoken out in support of Jihad and is notorious for his antisemitic comments. In one case he said that he was “surprised to hear a preacher say that one must not fight the Jews or stab them,” and he criticized a mufti who said that “martyrdom operations” were in fact “suicide operations” (http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/5161.htm). In another case, he accused Israel of trying to corrupt the Muslim world with drugs and penis enlargement ads (http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/4962.htm).

Host: Today's topic may be the most controversial social issue. We will discuss a phenomenon that has made the headlines, and the statistics show that the situation is catastrophically dangerous. We will discuss the phenomenon of suicides.

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Imad Hamatu: We must change the equation that we have been taught since a young age: "Death for the sake of Allah is our loftiest aspiration." Why can't our loftiest aspiration be life for the sake of Allah? Did Allah create us to die, to bury our children, and to grieve over them: One getting burned and another committing suicide by throwing himself (from a rooftop)? We want to live! Why do we always think in terms of the nihilistic logic of death? Allah created us so that we would fill this Earth with life.

Our religious discourse today is alienated and is limited to the mosque. We should be worshipping Allah not only from the pulpit of the mosque, but also from the pulpit of chemistry, the pulpit of physics, and in sports. We want to be the best nation among Mankind.

Sheikh El-Shaarawy used to say that when you toil for your livelihood, you are free to say what you want. We are a nation that does not eat what it plants, and does not wear the clothes it manufactures. This is why we always rely on foreign aid. For 66 years, we have been playing the role of the victim. We are beholden to Qatar, to Turkey, and to Iran, instead of getting used to the idea of building our own country, instead of getting used to the idea that ours is the greatest of causes. We must get out of this narrow cocoon, and stop behaving like beggars. We are the most honorable people.

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