Every time Dermer mentioned Hamas's genocidal goals - which are pretty explicit in its still-current founding charter - Kelly interrupted him.
The first time was perhaps not a big deal:
DERMER: It's not a battle between Israelis and Palestinians. It's a terror organization that controls Gaza, not just the terror organization, but a genocidal one that...KELLY: You're talking about Hamas, which is recognized internationally as a terror organization. Go on.
The next time shows that Kelly, and presumably NPR, have an agenda of downplaying any genocidal intentions from Hamas:
KELLY: Ambassador Dermer, understanding, of course, that every country, including Israel, has the right to defend itself. You are the stronger power here. Why not go first?DERMER: I don't understand why, if Israel is the stronger power, that makes any difference. You just had a representative, a spokesman for a terror organization. And, Mary Louise, it's important to tell your audience this is an organization that calls for the murder of Jews worldwide.KELLY: Let me stop you because my question to you is, why doesn't Israel stop the shooting first?DERMER: I'll answer the question. I'll answer the question. But the context has to be given to the people of the United States. I think you have an obligation as a journalist, to also explain what we're dealing with.KELLY: Whatever Hamas may or may not be, why not go first? Why not put a cease-fire into place? Why not explore?
What is more enraging is that there is very little pushback from NPR host Steve Inskeep when Hamas representative Basem Naim tells him lies. Hamas' message is allowed to reach American audiences without interruption and his narrative is unchallenged, unlike Dermer.
NAIM: This story didn't start by launching rockets; this story started by forceful eviction of Palestinians from their houses in Sheikh Jarrah, a second Nakba. And this story started by our forceful - full-force planning of storming the most holiest place for 1.7 billion Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan.INSKEEP: Forgive me. I understand what you're saying, and let's stipulate that Israel did evict families and that there were protests that Israeli police responded to in Jerusalem and that many people were injured.
No one was evicted!
INSKEEP: But if you'll forgive me, I don't - I'm not grasping how firing rockets into civilian areas and receiving fire back from Israel that's been very destructive in Gaza - I'm not understanding how that is addressing the problem that you're naming.NAIM: It is addressing the problem by - because the international - first of all, I have to clear - to clarify one important point. Anarchy (ph) by people under occupation, regardless of - it is Israelis or Muslims, Jewish - they have the right, based on the international law, to resist the occupation by all feasible means, including armed resistance - when to use it, how to use it.
That is a flat out lie. Under international law one may never target civilians. NPR's listeners won't know this. Perhaps Inskeep doesn't know this.
NAIM: Palestinians have the right to defend themselves. And I have to say, if you consider the launching rockets against Israeli cities is not acceptable or rejected, OK, this is your right, but what do you say about being imprisoned - or, I mean, 2 million Palestinians for 15 years under Israeli siege, suffocating siege, where - so that the United Nations called Gaza as the biggest open-air prison. Our Gaza in 2020 is unlivable.INSKEEP: You're correct, largely correct, in your description of Gaza. We've reported from there. I've reported from there. You have said in response to the question about why fire missiles into populated areas that you believe Hamas has the right to do this as an occupied people. I guess, then, my next question is whether you think it is wise. By doing this, you've exposed Gaza to an Israeli response that you can't really defend against, and a great number of people are killed. Has this been wise?NAIM: Israel didn't stop attacking Gaza 24 hours, seven days a week, along the last few years. If you live in Gaza, you can hear 24 hours, seven days a week, air drones in the sky and attacking people here and there. I mean, the Israeli aggression didn't stop because of Hamas rockets.
INSKEEP: How much longer are you expecting the firing to go?
Inskeep, who has already established himself as an "expert" for having visited Gaza a couple of times, doesn't dispute Naim's characterization of Israel constantly attacking Gaza 24/7 even during calmer times.
Before this current fighting, not one Gazan was killed by the IDF in 14 months. Clearly when there is calm from Hamas, Israel responds with calm. Naim is lying - but the NPR "expert" lets him lie without comment, without interruption that NPR hosts do to Israeli guests.
Between these two interviews we see that Israelis will be interrupted if they point out what Hamas is all about, but Hamas won't be interrupted when they spout lies. That's pretty much NPR.
