During his time in Belmarsh there was a lot of sympathy for Julian Assange. He was seen as the "good guy" falsely imprisoned for telling the world how dreadfully badly governments, particularly the US one, were behaving.
Over this last weekend he was involved in a "protest" march which was actually supporting a group which has committed unspeakable horrors.
Yes, I know that what is going on in the Gaza strip is appalling. I also know it is getting plenty of the wrong sort of publicity.
Night after night there are reports on the news service about the starvation in Gaza. The Israeli government is criticised - and rightly so - for their part in this. There are pictures we are told might "distress" us.
I have yet to see hear much criticism of Hamas. We are told of course but the fiercest condemnation is directed at the IDF. We are told they will not allow aid in, that they will not allow aid to be distributed, that they are intent on prolonging the war and more. This suits the international narrative.
Does Assange really believe this is an accurate narrative, one worth of his support? If he does then he must not be reading any of the words written by those who have immediate sources of information. Is he supporting Hamas because he really believes they are in the right, that kidnapping and murder and the destruction of Gaza are right?
Statehood for Palestinians has to come but it has to come through the vote of the people in free and fair elections. It has to come about without Hamas playing any part in those elections because their aim is to destroy Israel. Assange should understand that. He should also understand that standing there at the front of the crowd with some other noteworthy fools is just playing into the hands of Hamas.
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