Hasan Piker Reaffirms Hamas Better Than Israel in Podcast Interview

Hasan Piker, a prominent Twitch streamer and progressive commentator, reaffirmed his view that Hamas is "a thousand times better" than Israel during an interview on the Pod Save America podcast on Sunday. The discussion with host Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, highlighted Piker's unyielding stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict amid his growing involvement in Democratic campaigns.

Favreau pressed Piker on a January statement praising Hamas, noting the group's responsibility for the October 7 attacks that killed, raped and kidnapped Israeli civilians. "When you say Hamas is a thousand times better, do you actually mean that?" Favreau asked, suggesting it might be rhetorical or a show of solidarity. Piker responded affirmatively, describing himself as a "harm-reduction voter" who would choose Hamas over Israel. He portrayed the group as a paramilitary organization rooted in Palestinians orphaned by what he called an apartheid state responsible for 80 years of domination and genocide, starting with the 1948 Nakba. Piker emphasized that Gaza had been the world's largest open-air prison before the attacks.

The interview also touched on U.S....