Palestinian rights advocates are being smeared simply for opposing Hamas

Motaz lost 15 family members to the shelling, yet despite this unimaginable loss, he remained committed to his mission. He continued his efforts to expose the horrors and brutality of the Israeli army's actions against Palestinians.

But despite his tireless dedication and pivotal role as the world's window into Gaza, as well as the personal tragedy he endured, even Motaz was demonised. What these critics need to understand is that their words could have potentially harmful effects on public opinion—especially in the West.

For example, if an American first learned about Palestine through Motaz's camera and then found out some people viewed him as a "traitor" for supporting the Palestinian Authority instead of Hamas, this could create dissonance and confusion.

But the issue is much bigger than opposing Hamas and extends beyond Palestinian borders. There seems to be an orchestrated campaign to vilify, ostracise and smear those who voice stances and opinions that veer from the official positions of "the group".

Unfortunately, this campaign has effectively silenced national figures and dissenting voices, ensuring that the stances of "the group" remain the dominant narrative. This domination has held entire countries' fate hostage to those who benefit from the continuation of conflict.

Rashid al-Khalidi, a Palestinian-American professor of Arab studies at Columbia University, has also been subjected to smear campaigns, although to a lesser extent than others. This may be because al-Khalidi is less of a public figure and more of a respected and established academic. 

What these three figures have in common is their Palestinian heritage, their important role in highlighting the plight of the Palestinian people and their opposition to Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel. So it seems clear that despite their efforts to advocate for Palestinians and highlight their suffering, their entire message is being discredited by some simply because they do not support Hamas.