Francesca Albanese: “People continue to say ‘But Hamas, Hamas, Hamas’... I don't think people have any idea what Hamas is. Hamas is a political force that won the 2005 elections—whether we like it or not.

Hamas built schools, public facilities, hospitals. It was simply the authority, the de facto authority.”

“So it is critical that you understand, that when you think of Hamas, you should not necessarily think of cut-throats, people armed to the teeth, or fighters. It's not like that.”