Overview

• Carlson said on his podcast he was not sure Hamas is a radical jihadi group and suggested it seems more like a political organization.
• His remarks drew immediate criticism from prominent conservatives, including Sen. Ted Cruz and Mark Levin, who accused him of downplaying terrorism.
• Commentators such as Seth Dillon argued Carlson’s framing echoes narratives associated with Qatar and Iran, with some derisively dubbing him “Qatarlson.”
• He made the comments while criticizing Israel’s strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, calling such actions “self-destructive,” as Israeli authorities said the incident was under investigation.
• The dispute plays out against the backdrop of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack and ongoing conflict, and highlights scrutiny of Carlson’s post-Fox commentary on The Tucker Carlson Show.