Democratic leaders and Jewish groups condemn video of support for Hamas at Oakland debate

Edited video clips, which some say are misleading, show comments made by public at city council debate justifying Hamas as ‘armed resistance’

Prominent Democratic party leaders in California, as well as pro-Israel Jewish groups in the Bay Area, have condemned expressions of support for Hamas and conspiracy theories questioning the 7 October attacks aired at a heated Oakland city council debate on Monday.

The California congress member Adam Schiff said it was shocking to hear people “downplay, deny or even seek to justify” the “horrific attacks, rapes, killings and kidnappings” carried out by Hamas. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, also posted on social media that Hamas was a terrorist organization that “must be called out for what they are: evil”.