An author speaking at a London university event called ‘Understanding Hamas and Why that Matters’ has been criticised after she slammed the media for “deliberately misrepresenting” the terrorist group and its actions.
Speaking to The London School of Economics (LSE) students and staff at the event on Monday evening, Helena Cobban – author of Understanding Hamas and Why that Matters – said: “It’s crucial for us to recognise how complicit corporate media in this country have been in the misrepresentation—and I would even say the ‘disrepresentation’—of both Hamas as a movement and its actions.”
Cobban explained that she coined the term “disrepresentation” to highlight the intentional suppression and distortion of Hamas’ actions and other resistance movements.
“Hamas is not alone in Gaza in mounting a resistance,” she said.
The event, hosted by LSE’s Middle East Department, had faced significant scrutiny in the weeks leading up to it
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When moderator Michael Manson asked whether she was using “resistance” as a factual term, Cobban responded: “Yes, absolutely.
“Resistance to occupation, which is permitted under international law.”
Cobban further argued that the media’s role in “suppressing this resistance movement” and its allies has contributed significantly to public ignorance about it.
Later in the discussion, Cobban was asked to directly condemn Hamas’ attacks on October 7.
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In her response, she struggled to provide a clear condemnation.
“I am definitely prepared to condemn all attacks that violate international humanitarian law, whether on October 7 or any other day,” she said. “However, it’s important to note that much of what Hamas did on October 7 involved attacking military targets inside Israel.”
During a round of questions, a woman who has been researching and teaching about demonisation and dehumanisation at LSE for 20 years lashed out at Cobban’s remarks, as well as the event description, which initially read: “Across Western mainstream discourse, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has been subjected to intense vilification.
“Branding it as ‘terrorist’ or worse, this demonisation intensified after the events in Southern Israel on October 7, 2023.”
Protests outside LSE Monday evening
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The description was later amended.
She said: “Your twisted use of demonisation and vilification in relation to Hamas is a clear attempt to exonerate a terrorist organisation. To depict Hamas as innocent and as being unfairly portrayed and misunderstood.”
The other panelists at the event included Mouin Rabbani, co-editor of Jadaliyya; Catherine Charrett, a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Westminster; and Jeroen Gunning, a Visiting Professor at the LSE Middle East Centre, who has previously argued that labelling Hamas as a terrorist organisation is an “obstacle to peace.”
Gunning doubled down on his stance during the event – emphasising that labelling Hamas as terrorists has “devastating consequences”.
He argued that it “facilitates the dehumanisation of Hamas and all Gazans,”and “erases the historical context of the October 7 attacks,” while “obstruct[ing] a political solution and humanitarian aid.”
He elaborated on his second point, saying: “It allows Israel to claim these were irrational, evil, unprovoked attacks, and that it’s about hatred and nothing else.”
He added: “Of course, the attacks did not come out of nowhere.”
The event, hosted by LSE’s Middle East Department, had faced significant scrutiny in the weeks leading up to it. Jewish students, staff, and organisations expressed outrage over the university hosting an event focused on “understanding” a terrorist group.
Israeli ambassador to the UK – Tzipi Hotovely – wrote to vice-chancellor of LSE Prof Larry Kraimer to urge the institution to cancel the event amid worries it could “provide a platform for Hamas propaganda”.
She wrote: “I am deeply concerned that the event is providing a platform for Hamas propaganda – a terror organisation proscribed under United Kingdom law. I worry that by promoting such a book, which sympathises with and justifies the survival and existence of Hamas, will only serve to grow support for a brutal terror organisation among your students and beyond.”
Gunning doubled down on his stance during the event, emphasizing that labeling Hamas as terrorists has devastating consequences
She added: “The university should not be endorsing this event, let alone organising it through its Middle East Centre. Nor should the university allow this event to go ahead on its premises. Therefore, I encourage you to cancel the event.”
However, LSE stood firm in its decision to allow it to go on, claiming it was defending “free speech”.
A senior member of the LSE Jewish society attending the event told GB News: “When the event was announced, I was astonished by the seeming support for Hamas, a prescribed terror organisation, and the show of support for such an event by students, staff and the wider community.
“This support was never more evident than the protest before the event, the attitude of attendees to the event and the conversations I saw afterwards. However, even though I felt incredible uncomfortable attending such an event, I felt the need to represent the Jewish and Israeli community on campus, to show it was strong and will not be silenced.”
“After all the assurances given by the university once it was clear the event would go ahead, I did not think matters could get any worse – I was wrong. I am proud to see, however, the wonderful turnout for the protest against the event – and grateful for the allies who stood with us against radicalisation of students – both Jewish and non Jewish people stood together to defend what’s right and offered support.”
A student protesting outside the LSE event this evening told the people’s channel: “LSE is actively working to sanitise the image of a terrorist organisation.
“Students are being indoctrinated with hatred towards Britain, the West, and Jews. It’s deeply disturbing — and we must stand up against it.”
GB News has contacted LSE for comment.