Controversial Clash
On Piers Morgan, APAN President Defends Hamas' October 7 Abductions as 'Justified' Leverage | WATCH
Aussie Pro-Palestine Leader Nasser Mashni Sparks Fury by Calling Hamas Hostages 'Bargaining Chips' and Baby Kfir Bibas an 'Occupier'! Draws Scathing Rebuke from Activist Drew Pavlou and Global Critics Amid Ceasefire Tensions!
In a firestorm of controversy that has ignited social media and drawn international backlash, Nasser Mashni, president of the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN), has been slammed for describing Hamas' October 7, 2023, hostages as "the only bargaining chips they had," while labeling one-year-old captive Kfir Bibas an "occupier" during a heated debate on Piers Morgan Uncensored.
The remarks, aired in a recent episode of the show, exploded online when Australian activist Drew Pavlou shared a clip on X on October 11, 2025, blasting Mashni as "absolutely subversive fifth column scum" and questioning why he's in Australia. Pavlou's post features the video where Mashni defends the hostage-taking amid the Israel-Hamas war, now in a fragile ceasefire phase with releases underway.
During the Piers Morgan panel, Mashni, a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and critic of Israel's actions, argued that the abductions were a desperate measure by Hamas, stating they were "the only bargaining chips they had" in the conflict. When pressed on the morality of kidnapping civilians, including infants like Kfir Bibas (who, along with his family, was tragically killed in captivity), Mashni doubled down, referring to the baby as an "occupier" - a term that has fueled accusations of dehumanization and antisemitism from opponents.
Israeli journalist Emily Schrader amplified the clip, decrying Mashni's words as symptomatic of broader sympathy for Hamas, with comments flooding in: "People like Nasser would prefer the hostages stay in Gaza forever if it means Israel loses." Pavlou's tweet echoes this sentiment, positioning Mashni as a threat to Australian values amid rising global tensions over the Gaza truce.
Mashni, who has long accused Israel of "genocide" and "apartheid," has faced prior scrutiny for his activism, including calls to boycott Israeli products and protests against the war. His comments come as Hamas releases the remaining hostages, including the remains of 26 deceased captives like the Bibas family, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, under the Trump-brokered deal.
As backlash mounts, with some demanding Mashni's removal from APAN, the incident underscores the deep divides over the conflict, even as peace efforts unfold.