Hey, did you see the big news made last Thursday regarding the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza? You didn't see that one side in the Israel-Hamas war, which is now nearly two years old, said they know the price is high, but there is no other option? Of course you didn't see it, or hear much about it, because it was a top ranking Hamas official who told that to CNN, not an IDF spokesman, or an Israeli official justifying those civilian deaths.

There's been a great imbalance of scrutiny in this war, with Israel being relentlessly dragged while the claims of Hamas -- the "Gaza health ministry" being treated as neutral information. 

Last week, CNN reporter Justin Diamond sad down with Hamas negotiator Ghazi Hamad and pushed him hard about the responsibility of his side for death and destruction. I have found Diamond to be extremely hard on Israel throughout the war in Gaza, but in this interview, he showed no fear in holding Hamas accountable. He pressed Hamad on Hamas's responsibility for what has been happening in Gaza, since his organization launched the October 7th attack in 2023.

Do you accept any responsibility for triggering so much death and destruction?

What gives you the right to decide that Palestinian women and children should be sacrificed on the altar of your resistance?

And what gives you the right to decide it's a price worth paying, that child can die, it's OK, because it's in order to fulfill our resistance?

Hamad said hey, don't blame us: "Well, as Hamas, we are fighting for the interests of the people. We don't want our people to be killed. Don't put the problem on the shoulder of Hamas." Diamond also reported that Hamad also expressed that the October 7 massacre has been a political win for Hamas. 

Diamond insisted to Hamad he pushed both sides: "When I speak with Israeli officials, I press them about what they are doing in Gaza. When I'm speaking with Hamas officials, I press them for your responsibility." That would bring some balance to this very imbalanced situation, but it's the exception, not the rule.  

It draws anti-Israel headlines when Israeli officials rightfully claim that Hamas uses civilians as human shields in hospitals, schools, and other public places, making it unavoidable to kill civilians in any military action. 

In a follow up to his interview Diamond wrote on CNN.com, "Pressed repeatedly on whether Hamas bears any responsibility for the death and destruction it triggered on October 7, Hamad – who has previously said Palestinians are “proud to sacrifice martyrs” – demurred and deflected. Instead, he made clear he believes that provoking Israel’s overwhelming attacks on Gaza and the ensuing deaths of Palestinians was both necessary and justified."

Bravo to Jeremy Diamond for not sitting silently by while Hamas propaganda spews from the mouth of an Hamas official, and shame on the media in general, for opting not to give this interview and this story the attention it so readily deserves.