The ongoing violence that broke out after Palestinians rioted in Jerusalem and Hamas proceeded to target Jewish civilians with indiscriminate rocket fire has reignited the debate among Western nations regarding the supposed “culpability” of Israel.
Mostly split along party lines, the attitude promoted by the Left is that Israel is an almost uniquely evil country, actively oppressing the Palestinian people.
One common allegation leveled against Israel in this regard is that the world’s one Jewish state is an “apartheid” state, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) saying, “It is our duty to end the apartheid system that for decades has subjected Palestinians to inhumane treatment and racism,” and “comedian” John Oliver claiming that “Palestinians are essentially being governed by a form of apartheid.”
As is usual with the Left, various minority “victim groups” have been hastily encouraged to unite in a “coalition” against perceived systemic oppression. Tlaib attempted to forge such unity along racial lines, saying, “What they are doing to the Palestinian people is what they continue to do to our black brothers and sisters here,” while one of the more bizarre alliances forged in support of a Palestinian state involves various LGBTQ groups. One such example is a “Queers for Palestine” movement.
Funny that there are queers FOR Palestine when there are no queers IN Palestine pic.twitter.com/WGvbqqOrjj
— Annika H Rothstein (@truthandfiction) May 13, 2021
The irony here, while missed by many, was pointed out by Christian Walker — a political commentator and son of football legend, Herschel Walker — who has been an outspoken supporter of the Jewish state. A few days ago, Walker tweeted, “I support Israel because the other side would behead me.”
I support Israel because the other side would behead me.
— Christian Walker (@ChristianWalk1r) May 13, 2021
Now, this may seem like “conservative hyperbole” or “fear-mongering” to those who have no interest in understanding the society or ideology they are working to promote. However, Walker’s critique is entirely appropriate.
According to Amnesty International, “The civil society organization alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society reported that LGBTI people continued to be denied the freedom to exercise their rights,” and that “Section 152 of the Penal Code applicable in Gaza criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity and makes it punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
In 2019, NBC News reported, “Palestinian police have banned events organized by the LGBTQ rights organization alQaws because they go against ‘traditional Palestinian values,’” noting that “Homosexuality is taboo in Arab countries, many of which criminalize it.”
According to The Jerusalem Post, the West Bank and Gaza are the fourteenth most dangerous “nations” in the world for the LGBTQ community.
As Mark Lemant wrote in 2019 for the Leftist Israeli outlet, Haaretz, “At risk of harassment, torture or worse from Hamas or members of their own families, queer Gazans often hide away in fear.”
“It’s impossible in this community. I have met many homosexuals in Gaza online. But everyone is afraid of everyone. Some have been punished, some have been killed. Others killed themselves,” said one gay resident of the Gaza Strip, according to Haaretz.
In 2016, The New York Times reported that Mahmoud Ishtiwi, a Hamas commander, was executed after being accused of “moral turpitude, by which Hamas meant homosexuality.”
Such violent mistreatment of LGBTQ individuals is not unique to Palestinian territories, but is actually common across the Muslim world. According to USA Today, of the 13 countries where homosexuality is punishable by death, every one is a Muslim-majority country either partially or entirely governed by Sharia law.
In 2021, “Alireza Fazeli Monfared, a 20-year old Iranian man, was beheaded in what an Iranian human-rights group says was an ‘honor killing’ by family members after they learned he was gay.” Iran, as the largest state-sponsor of terror in the world, are actively supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups intent on destroying Israel — a country where the LGBT community enjoy equal rights.
It’s one thing to advocate for Palestinian freedom. It’s another to advocate for Palestinian freedom with a complete blindness for what this “freedom” would mean for members of the LGBTQ communities living under the intolerant and often murderous rule of Palestinian leadership.
Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at @ighaworth.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.