Asmongold Declines Debate with HasanAbi Over Controversial Arrest of Palestinian Activist

In a recent turn of events, popular Twitch streamer Zack “Asmongold”has opted not to engage in a debate with fellow political commentator HasanAbi, following criticisms surrounding his stance on the arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil, a Columbia University student, was detained by the Department of Homeland Security for alleged activities purportedly linked to Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization in the U.S. since 1997, according to the Director of National Intelligence.

Asmongold’s Support for Khalil’s Arrest

Asmongold has publicly supported Khalil’s arrest, indicating during one of his Twitch streams that he believes other green card holders with similar views should also face deportation. This sparked backlash from HasanAbi, who extended an invitation to Asmongold for a discussion about the implications of such arrests on free speech and activism.

Refusal to Debate

On March 12, 2025, Asmongold firmly communicated his disinterest in debating HasanAbi on this matter during a stream, stating:

“He [HasanAbi] wants to talk about this. The problem is, I don’t want to engage with Hasan because he openly creates… I found that debating things and arguing with people doesn’t really help, it doesn’t convince anybody or anything like that.”

Claims of Dishonesty

Further complicating the situation, Asmongold accused HasanAbi of misrepresenting his viewpoints, labeling the criticisms as dishonest:

“You are beginning your criticism of me with a caricature of what my point of view is. Why would I engage with somebody who is intentionally being dishonest? Why would I do that? Of course I’m not going to do that.”

This remark ties back to a post from HasanAbi on social media, where he accused Asmongold of hypocrisy concerning free speech issues:

“Asmongold thinks it’s a violation of free speech when devs make video game b**bs smaller, but when the DHS openly kidnaps a green card holder for being pro-Palestine, he thinks it’s awesome and not a violation of the First Amendment. Classic free speech defender stuff here.”

Asmongold Critiques HasanAbi’s Stance

Despite declining the debate, Asmongold expressed strong feelings regarding HasanAbi’s defense of Khalil, arguing that it reflects an extreme position. He reinforced the restrictions placed on green card holders, asserting that Khalil violated these rules of residence:

“Also, I think that he [HasanAbi] is making a mistake by being that extreme about this. This is a person [Mahmoud Khalil] that is in the country on a green card, and there are restrictions on people that are on a green card… I support the restrictions.”

Conclusion: Ongoing Discourse and Previous Clashes

Asmongold concluded that he does not support allowing individuals who are not citizens to engage in activities that may support terrorism:

“I don’t want people who aren’t citizens to come into the country and support terrorist groups. If Hasan wants people who are not citizens to come into the country and support terrorist groups, then that’s his own prerogative. But I disagree with it. That’s it.”

This latest disagreement is not an isolated incident; the two streamers have previously clashed online, notably after HasanAbi’s controversial remarks about Rick Scott led to outrage and a swift unbanning on Twitch.

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