Over the past week, the Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan has dominated news coverage across the world. International outlets have published numerous articles each day detailing the rapid advancement of gun-toting Islamist militants as they marched towards the capital, Kabul. Various photos have been printed that show dramatic scenes of Chinook helicopters airlifting US officials away from the besieged city (see here, here and here).
Yet, very little appeared in the media about Hamas offering its congratulations to Taliban on its “victory that came as the culmination of more than 20 years of struggle.”
A statement on the Gaza-based terror organization’s website said its political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, spoke to his Taliban counterpart Abdul Ghani Barader to offer his best following the “demise of the [United States] occupation on Afghan soil.” Haniyeh described the event as a “prelude to the demise of all forces of oppression and, foremost among them, the Israeli occupation of the land of Palestine.”
In return, the Taliban chief “wished Palestine and its oppressed people that God would grant them victory and empowerment as a fruit of their jihad.”
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called Taliban’s Mullah Baradar and congratulated him on the ‘defeat of the US occupation’ in Afghanistan. Haniyeh: ‘The demise of the US occupation of Afghanistan is a prelude to the demise of the Israeli occupation of the land of Palestine.’ pic.twitter.com/6VDQAxAecg
— Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) August 17, 2021
Of the few publications that did note Hamas’ effusive support was the Associated Press, which, to its credit, produced a brief 150-word piece explaining how the “Palestinian group that opposes Israel’s existence” lauded the Taliban on bringing an “end to the United States’ 20-year presence in the country.”
In publishing excerpts of Hamas’ statement, the AP highlights the links between Hamas and the Taliban and, tacitly, draws attention to their similarities.
For example, both groups seek to establish a global caliphate under Sharia law; have perpetrated suicide bombings and view such attacks as a legitimate means of achieving their goals; subjugate women and torture gay people; and have executed political opponents.
Neither will hesitate to either murder civilians or use them as human shields.
Nevertheless, there is a stark difference in the media coverage of the two groups. To illustrate this point, it is illuminating to look at some recent headlines of the Taliban’s actions in Afghanistan.
As is clear from these examples, an issue that many media outlets have reported on is how women and minority groups will, according to historical precedent, be abused under the Taliban’s fundamentalist rule. However, when it comes to Hamas’ own poor track record of respecting the human rights of residents of the Gaza Strip, the publications are, seemingly, far less concerned.
Indeed, Palestinian forces in Gaza routinely torture activists accused of crimes. Amnesty International has noted there is woeful protection for women and girls against sexual violence and so-called honor killings. But in many of the media’s vivid accounts of life in Gaza, details of such abuses are absent (see here, and here).
Furthermore, when news outlets do report on the barbarities of life under Hamas’ rule, they often seek to lay the blame at Israel’s feet. This was certainly the case when earlier this year Gaza’s terrorist rulers decided women would no longer be able to leave their homes without a male guardian escorting them. As Honestreporting highlighted at the time, media organizations sought to connect this move to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the coastal enclave.
It’s telling, and important to note, that Hamas congratulated the Taliban the moment it seized control of Afghanistan.
The #Taliban and #Hamas share a similar extremist Islamic ideology and anti-Western agenda. And they’re not hiding it.#JihadiKnowsJihadi pic.twitter.com/EkRn3D2OOY
— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) August 17, 2021
There is an irony in this apparent unwillingness by the media to acknowledge the true face of Hamas. These are the same publications who have criticized President Joe Biden for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and leaving swaths of civilians to suffer under the Taliban’s rule.
Yet, when Israel defends itself from a similar threat, it is almost invariably painted as the aggressor.
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