Who Is Khaled Mashal, Hamas Leader Virtually Took Part In Pro-Palestine Protest In Kerala?

A row has erupted in Kerala after a Hamas leader virtually took part in a pro-Palestine rally in Kerala's Malappuram on Friday.

A protest programme was organised by Solidarity Youth Movement, the youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami against Israel's war with the militant outfit Hamas.

Kerala BJP chief K Surendran said shared a poster displaying Mashal's participation in the event organised by the district wing of the Movement in Malappuram on X. He alleged that the situation had reached this extent in traditionally secular Kerala.

Kerala BJP chief K Surendran said, "Terrorist leaders of Hamas themselves take part in events (in the state). It was virtual participation only because he didn't obtain a visa. The organisers' intentions were evident...,"

The BJP chief urged both Kerala police and central agencies to investigate the incident further.

BJP leader Anil Antony has slammed the Kerala government, alleging that it was in "hand-in-glove" with terrorist organisations. "Yesterday, in Kerala, a terrorist leader (former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal) addressed a massive crowd virtually. The BJP strongly condemns all such activities. In the last few months, the NIA has carried out several investigations in Kerala. The agency has to step in once again. This (LDF) government is in hand-in-glove with these terrorist organisations," ANI quoted him as saying.

However, Suhaib C T, state president of the Solidarity Youth Movement, justified the virtual participation of the Hamas leader.

"He took part in our programme organised to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and to condemn the onslaught by Israel. No need to see anything unusual in that," he told PTI.

He said Hamas is not an organisation that is operational in India or a banned outfit, and so his participation is not a crime under the law.

There would be many more solidarity events in India, which would prove the support of the Indians for the Palestinian people, Suhaib said.

Who Is Khaled Mashal?

• In 1992, he became a founding member of Hamas' politburo and its chairman. He became the recognized head of Hamas after Israel assassinated both Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his successor Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi in the spring of 2004.
• He became the recognized head of Hamas after Israel assassinated both Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his successor Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi in the spring of 2004.
• Born in the West Bank, he was brought up in Kuwait and Jordan. In 2004, he became a leader in exile from Hamas.
• He operated from Jordan, Syria, Qatar and Egypt.
• With over $4 billion net worth, he lives in Qatar today.
• Under his leadership, Hamas achieved a significant victory by winning the majority of seats in the Palestinian legislative election in 2006. Mashal concluded his tenure as Hamas' politburo chairman when he stepped down at the end of his term limit in 2017.