This marks the first time a prominent academic figure has explicitly linked Hamas' October 7 attack to disrupting Saudi-Israeli economic normalization. Khalil's insider perspective as a former UNRWA intern reveals how regional economic integration was viewed as an existential threat by Palestinian activists, significant enough to trigger unprecedented violence to prevent Middle East financial cooperation.
Columbia Activist: Hamas Attack 'Necessary' to Break Saudi-Israel Deal
📰 What Happened
Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Columbia University activist facing deportation, defended Hamas' October 7 attacks during an interview on The Ezra Klein Show. Khalil, who previously interned at UNRWA, claimed the attacks were necessary to 'break the cycle' and prevent a pending Saudi-Israeli normalization deal. He argued that Palestinians 'had to reach this moment' due to increasing violence, while accusing Netanyahu of exploiting the situation 'to ethnically cleanse Palestinians.'
📖 Prophetic Significance
The attempted derailment of Saudi-Israeli normalization by Hamas reveals a prophetic economic pattern. The potential deal, which would have created unprecedented financial cooperation between Israel and the world's largest oil producer, aligns with Daniel's end-times predictions of complex Middle East alliances. Khalil's admission that Palestinians felt compelled to act before this economic integration occurred suggests how regional financial partnerships could trigger prophesied conflicts. The UNRWA connection adds another layer, showing how international organizations become entangled in prophetic economic developments.