In a series of candid interviews conducted in Ramallah, Jewish American comedian Zach Sage Fox encountered unwavering support for Hamas and widespread antisemitic views among Palestinians, according to reporting by The Jerusalem Post. Fox's interviews, part of his "Wild West Bank" video project, revealed a stark reality that challenges perceptions of Palestinian attitudes towards peace and coexistence.
Fox, who spoke with The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday night, described his findings as "shocking." He told the newspaper, "I didn't meet one person who didn't love Hamas. All of them hated Jews with every bone of their body."
The comedian, accompanied by a translator, producer, and cameraman, did not disclose his Jewish identity during the interviews. Ramallah is considered section A of the West Bank, where Israeli citizens are banned from entering.
Fox's experience in Ramallah was not without incident. He recounted a threatening situation where he and his team were forced to delete footage under duress. "I've been making videos for 15 years, and I've never had to delete videos because someone's threatened to kill me," Fox told The Jerusalem Post.
Free Palestine? I went to see 'Palestine'… and almost didn't make it out alive.
After asking questions on the streets of Ramallah for less than an hour, a group of Palestinian men threatened to kill us if we didn't delete our footage. This is what we were able to recover…… pic.twitter.com/D2rzmE6HBb
— Zach Sage Fox (@zachsagefox) July 23, 2024
When asked if they were supportive of Hamas, most respondents answered affirmatively, with one woman stating, "Of course." Another interviewee declared, "Palestinian people like Hamas," while a woman asserted, "I'm with the resistance."
Fox's inquiries about the events of October 7 revealed troubling attitudes. When asked if they had seen the videos posted by Hamas from that day, one woman confidently replied, "Everything." Fox followed up by asking if they were okay with Hamas's actions, to which she confirmed, "With everything they did."
The interviews also touched on the issue of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Fox reported to The Jerusalem Post that there was a resounding 'no' from all Palestinians when asked if Hamas should release the remaining hostages.
In discussions about historical events, Fox encountered what he described as revisionism. One younger man claimed, "Nothing is named Israel." When Fox pointed out that the Quran mentions Israel over 100 times and asked if Palestine was mentioned, the man admitted it wasn't.
Fox emphasized that his goal was not to show that peace is impossible, but to reveal the reality on the ground. "These people have so much hate in their hearts for my people. I have nothing but love in my heart for them," he said, adding that this realization made it "the most important video I've ever done."
