The military wing of Hamas posted on its website a tribute to noted White House reporter Helen Thomas, who died Saturday: “Rest in peace, Helen Thomas.”
Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades members added, “We respect you for taking a stand.” The tribute, reported by The Blaze, also included a photo of Ms. Thomas with the reference of “pioneer journalist.”
Hamas also posted an article from Al Jazeera that touted Ms. Thomas’ accomplishments. One such was “her disdain for White House secrecy and dodging, [which] spanned five decades, back to President John F. Kennedy.”
Ms. Thomas’ lengthy White House reporting career with United Press International and Hearst was tainted toward the end with 2010 comments she made in Washington. While leaving an American Jewish Heritage Celebration Day at the White House, she was asked to comment on Israel. Her widely reported reply: “Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.”
Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, feels similarly. The group’s founding mission in the late 1980s was to establish a Palestinian nation based on pre-1967 borders.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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