Gavin Newsom denounces 'evil' Hamas organization after Oakland residents defend terrorist group

close

Video

California officials refuse to formally condemn Hamas

FOX News' William La Jeunesse provides details on the Oakland City Council's 6-2 vote not to condemn Hamas after people in attendance largely blamed Israel for the Oct. 7 terror attack.

Gov. Gavin Newsom broke his silence Wednesday after a viral video of an Oakland, California, city council meeting showed residents defending Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group responsible for more than 1,200 deaths in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

"Hamas is a terrorist organization. They must be called out for what they are: evil," the California Democrat posted on X, formerly Twitter, in response to the video.

The Oakland City Council was debating an amendment to a proposed resolution calling for a cease-fire by Israel in the conflict with Hamas. The proposed amendment – which was voted down – condemned Hamas, the group that took responsibility for the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

HAMAS TRANSFERS 10-MONTH-OLD ISRAELI HOSTAGE, FAMILY TO SEPARATE PALESTINIAN TERROR GROUP IN GAZA: IDF

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif. (MediaNews Group / East Bay Times via Getty Images)

The resolution was met with opposition from several Oakland residents who testified before the council. One resident featured in the video said, "Calling Hamas a terrorist organization is ridiculous, racist and plays into genocidal propaganda that is flooding our media and that we should be doing everything possible to combat."

Another resident complained that "to condemn Hamas is very anti-Arab racist."

Yet another added, "[T]he notion that this was a massacre of Jews is a fabricated narrative" and called the resolution "bald propaganda."

STORIES OF TORTURE, TORMENT REVEALED BY ISRAELI CHILDREN KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS TERRORISTS

A woman defends Hamas at an Oakland City Council meeting on Monday. (City of Oakland)

One man said that hearing Israelis condemn Hamas is "like listening to a wifebeater complain when his wife finally stands up and fights back."

'I WILL BE HAUNTED FOREVER’: ISRAEL’S HORRIFIC VIDEO OF HAMAS ATROCITIES LEAVES VIEWERS SHOCKED, SICKENED

"Hamas is a terrorist organization. They must be called out for what they are: evil," California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote in a post on X. (AP Photo / José Luis Villegas / File)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

"Hamas is a resistance organization that is fighting for the liberation of Palestinian people and their land," another resident said.