The New York Times published an opinion column by veteran foreign affairs commentator Thomas L. Friedman yesterday, titled "Minneapolis and Gaza Now Share the Same Violent Language," which has sparked widespread outrage for drawing direct comparisons between Hamas militants and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The piece links recent violent protests and federal immigration operations in Minneapolis to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, arguing that both scenarios involve masked operatives engaging in excessive force driven by political agendas.Friedman highlights a visual similarity: "Hamas and ICE also share one very visible trait that I never thought I’d see in the United States: Almost all of their foot soldiers wear masks."
Drawing from his Middle East reporting experience, he claims masks are worn by those "up to something bad" to avoid identification, as seen in Beirut and Gaza, and now in Minneapolis.
He challenges readers: "But if you placed a photo of an ICE officer next to a Hamas militiaman in a news quiz, I would defy you to tell them apart."
Friedman directs criticism at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asking, "Memo to the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem: That is not a good look. What are you hiding?"
