Hamas Sympathizers and Cancel Culture

Conservatives and classical liberals have long resisted “cancel culture,” which, simply defined, is the tendency to destroy people’s careers or reputations typically without due process and on spurious or exaggerated charges. Yet in the aftermath of Hamas’s brutal attack on Israeli men, women, and children, people are debating whether penalizing those who voice terrorist sympathies constitutes “cancel culture.”

Much of the debate centers on universities. At Harvard, more than 30 student groups signed a letter claiming Israel was “entirely responsible” for Hamas’s murderous rampage on October 7. (Consider the implications: If Israel is entirely responsible, then those who attacked them weren’t only justified but compelled to do so.) Naturally, such sentiments sparked widespread backlash.

About the Author

Madeleine Kearns

Madeleine Kearns is a former staff writer at National Review.

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Conservatives and classical liberals have long resisted “cancel culture,” which, simply defined, is the tendency to destroy people’s careers or reputations typically without due process and on spurious or exaggerated charges. Yet in the aftermath of Hamas’s brutal attack on Israeli men, women, and children, people are debating whether penalizing those who voice terrorist sympathies constitutes “cancel culture.”

Much of the debate centers on universities. At Harvard, more than 30 student groups signed a letter claiming Israel was “entirely responsible” for Hamas’s murderous rampage on October 7. (Consider the implications: If Israel is entirely responsible, then those who attacked them weren’t only justified but compelled to do so.) Naturally, such sentiments sparked widespread backlash.