The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has offered a statement after deleting a post on X that cheered on Palestine amid Hamas terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians.

Videos circulating on social media depict Hamas terrorists invading Israel, firing rockets at various locations, murdering hundreds of innocent civilians, and parading brutalized Israeli women in the streets.

In response to the violence, CUPE issued a statement in support of Palestinians “rising.” 

CUPE 3906 —  a local union that represents academic workers at McMaster University in Hamilton — cheered on “the resistance” after rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel.

McMaster University subsequently released their own statement condemning CUPE’s apparent support for terrorism, asserting they were “shocked and disappointed at the comments made by CUPE Local 3906 regarding this violence.”  

CUPE’s response

CUPE has since deleted the controversial post on X that received widespread backlash.

However on Tuesday, CUPE released an official statement that condemned Hamas “fighters'” attack on Israel – avoiding the term “terrorist.” 

CUPE then declared that Palestinians have a right to defend themselves through “armed struggle.”  

“We do not hesitate to condemn the terrible violence in southern Israel and Gaza that took place over this past weekend, and that continues to escalate, with no end in sight,” CUPE stated.  “CUPE Ontario members have shared the world’s shock and horror at the attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas fighters and at the subsequent Israeli military assault on the people of Gaza.”

CUPE added that “far-right” critics attacked them and CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn for their “recognition of Palestinians’ rights under international law to resist occupation through armed struggle.” 

“Support for these rights has guided the creation of CUPE Ontario’s policy against the apartheid policy of the state of Israel; that policy, often led by CUPE post-secondary locals, also forms part of our proud history of work against all forms of oppression and injustice.”

Radical President 

CUPE President Fred Hahn “liked” the original post on X issued by CUPE 3906. Hahn has recently sympathized with far-left Antifa radicals.

CUPE did not respond to a request for comment as to whether it considers Hamas a terrorist organization, as the Canadian government does.