The Swiss-Palestinian Association published a portrait of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on its platform. The Swiss Jewish Communities Association harshly criticized the statements in the text.
German political scientist Helga Baumgarten published an article on the platform of the Swiss-Palestinian Association about the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The text titled “Who is Yahya Sinwar?” describes Sinwar's life, his goals in resisting the Israeli occupation, and his importance in the Arab world. Baumgarten wrote that Sinwar was “a symbol of resistance” to most Palestinians and Arabs.
Criticisms of the depiction of “October 7”
For the Swiss Jewish Communities Association and the Foundation to Combat Racism and Anti-Semitism, this represents a trivialization of the October 7 attack, for which Sinwar bears primary responsibility. Jonathan Kreutner, secretary-general of the Swiss Jewish Communities Association, was shocked by “20 Minutes”: “The man primarily responsible for the largest mass murder of Jews since World War II is portrayed as a martyr here.” Kreutner specifically criticized Baum. Gartner wrote that Sinwar was not anti-Semitic.
Yahya Sinwar is the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and is considered the mastermind of Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. Image source: Associated Press
Baumgartner wrote that Sinwar “did not display any anti-Semitic attitudes” in his writings. His criticism was mainly “directed at the Palestinian collaborators of the occupation.” Furthermore, “resistance to occupation” was of paramount importance to him.
Kreutner criticized this representation in comparison to “20 Minutes.” The attacks of October 7 were not mentioned, and Sinwar was slighted: “The greatest irony is that he claimed there was no anti-Semitism in his writings. This was after he murdered more than a thousand Jews happened because they were Jewish at the height of his terrorism career. He described the text as a “new escalation” and a “slap in the face” for the victims of October 7 and the Jewish community.
This statement was refuted by Geri Müller, chairman of the Swiss-Palestinian Society (GSP) and old Green Party national MP. When asked by 20 Minutes, he said: “We enable the media and our members to get other perspectives from the Palestinian perspective. The image of Hamas and Yahya Sinwar is different from the image spread by Israeli propaganda.”
Mueller stressed that he “condemns all acts of violence, including the massacre on October 7.” But you also have to look at the “big picture.” In the Middle East wars since 1948, the Palestinian side has suffered more casualties than the Israeli side.
He said of Sinwar that he was the military leader of Hamas and partly responsible for the events of October 7. But the goal was to free “Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons,” not to kill civilians.
Philip Bessermann, managing director of the Foundation Against Racism and Antisemitism (GRA), also criticized the writing about the former Hamas boss in 20 Minutes.
The Federal Council wants to ban Hamas and groups and organizations acting in its name. To this end, he has submitted the corresponding law to Parliament. (nto)
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