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

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

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).