Palestinian student who faces deportation over October 7 comments insists she was not referring to Hamas

17 May 2024, 19:50 | Updated: 17 May 2024, 19:57

Tom Swarbrick speaks to Dana Abu Qamar

By Emma Soteriou

A Palestinian student who faces deportation over her remarks about October 7 has insisted she was not referring to Hamas.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Dana Abuqamar, 19, was filmed at a protest one day after the attack describing how she was “full of joy” and “proud that Palestinian resistance has come to this point”.

The Manchester University law student has since had her visa revoked, with the Home Office citing reasons of “public safety”.

But Ms Abuqamar said that her "words were taken out of context".

Speaking to LBC's Tom Swarbrick on Friday, she said: "I do not mention Hamas, I do not mention that I condone the killing of any innocent civilians, my words were taken completely out of context.

"No logical person can conclude that I was supporting harm to any innocent civilians based on the context that was given."

When asked what she was "full of pride" about, Ms Abuqamar said: "The breaking of the siege on Gaza, which was put in place on Gaza illegally for over 16 years."

She went on to say: "Palestinian resistance in itself is an action. Resistance is consistent with international law.

"It does not concern me what Hamas was doing, I was referring to Palestinian resistance. I was referring to resistance that is consistent with international law and the specific act of breaking through the siege.

She added: "I was not referring to any group."

Read more: Police shoot dead armed man trying to 'burn synagogue' in France

Read more: Water boss 'truly sorry' for parasites in Devon supply, as grandmother rushed to hospital and 'hundreds ill'

Tom Swarbrick's nuanced take on the Palestinian student who had her visa revoked

Ms Abuqamar has said she plans to appeal the decision.

She told Al Jazeera: “Essentially the Home Office claims that my presence in the UK threatens national security; they have said that the statements that I've made support some sort of extremist views.

“Keep in mind, I am a 19-year-old law student – all I have done in life is go to school and receive an education and advocate for social justice.”

She called the decision “completely baseless”.

The Home Office said it does not comment on individual cases.

She accused officials of “oppression” adding that she now feels freedom of expression does “not apply to ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims and Palestinians like myself”.

During the October 8 protest she was interviewed and told Sky News: “We are full of pride. We are really, really full of joy (at) what has happened.... We are proud that Palestinian resistance has come to this point.”

She later told the BBC that her comments had been “misrepresented” adding: “The death of any innocent civilian should not be condoned ever and we don't condone it at all.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Emergency services were called just after 7pm on Friday amid reports a woman had suffered serious injuries

'Screaming, shouting, crying': Landlady breaks silence after woman shot dead at village pub - as manhunt continues

Exclusive
Jonathan Reynolds told LBC’s Iain Dale that NATO is ‘a highly effective integrated defensive structure’, and that US requests for higher European spending on the alliance are ‘not unreasonable’.

Europe must ‘work closely’ with US to face Russia, Business Sec tells LBC ahead of emergency Ukraine summit

.T. Miller #10 of Team USA and Colton Parayko #55 of Team Canada fight during the first period in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025

Gloves off: Three fights in first nine seconds as USA beat Canada to reach 4 Nations ice hockey final

Exclusive
Europe must boost defence spending if it wants peace, Ukraine's former PM has told LBC.

‘If you want peace, pay for it', says ex-Ukrainian PM as Starmer to 'overrule' Reeves and boost defence spending

Lucy Letby was ‘shocked and distressed’ during the investigation into the deaths of babies that she was later found guilty of murdering, and ‘deserves an Oscar’ if she was lying, her former boss said.

Lucy Letby was 'innocent', distressed and ‘deserves an Oscar if she was acting’ says former boss

Jockey Michael O'Sullivan at Ascot Racecourse. Picture date: Friday November 22, 2024.

Cheltenham-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan dies aged just 24 after fall in race

Prime Minister Keir Starmer Meets With Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves At Downing Street

Starmer to 'overrule' Reeves and call for increased defence spending ahead of meeting with Donald Trump

images shared on social media show police arresting a man following the attack.

'Laughing' Syrian asylum seeker who stabbed boy, 14, to death was motivated by 'Islamic terrorism'

Axel Rudakubana has been jailed for 52 years.

FBI joins investigation into Southport killer amid claims he wiped internet search history

Heavy Rush In Trains For Last Amrit Snan On Prayagraj Kumbh

At least 15 dead in train station stampede in New Delhi

Pope Francis Attends The Weekly General Audience on Wednesday.

Pope Francis to miss Sunday prayer due to 'absolute rest' order after bronchitis diagnosis

Udoka Godwin-Malife

Burton Albion defender allegedly target of racist abuse by fan

Applegreen petrol station in New Town, Uckfield, Sussex.

Teenager dies after car overturned at Sussex petrol station

Starmer, Trump and Putin.

'Once in a generation moment': Starmer warns against NATO division ahead of emergency summit on Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and United States President Donald Trump (right).

US officials heading to Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

People look into a cordoned off area where a 23-year-old man stabbed several people in the southern Austria city of Villach,.

Boy, 14, killed and five injured after Syrian asylum seeker goes on knife rampage in Austrian town