By: Hal C Clarke

In a recent development, a prominent lawyer based in New York known for representing individuals associated with terrorist organizations has revealed that he continues to offer legal assistance to members of Hamas in Gaza and various other locations. Stanley Cohen, a self-described radical attorney, has a long history of representing Palestinian movements and individuals, dating back to 1995. His website even claims that he has “Hamas on the phone.”

Cohen acknowledged that he communicates with representatives of Hamas when they require legal advice for matters pending in international courts. However, he declined to provide specifics regarding when these communications took place, who he spoke with, or the nature of the discussions.

Hamas leaders are often known to reside in luxurious compounds within friendly host nations, which adds an intriguing dimension to Cohen’s involvement with the organization.

Cohen, who was raised as an Orthodox Jew but has since left the faith, has made headlines for his controversial legal representation of Hamas, as well as other infamous terror groups. He explained his departure from his religious background, stating that he distanced himself from it due to concerns about conflating a long-standing European colonial project with a millennia-old faith.

The lawyer’s association with these groups has not been without controversy. For instance, he represented Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Osama Bin Laden’s son-in-law, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2014 for conspiring to harm Americans.

Cohen’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is clear; he supports the idea that Palestinians have a right to armed struggle. In his view, Israeli settlers and soldiers are considered “legitimate targets” under international law.

Despite the recent deadly conflict involving Hamas, during which they stormed into Israel from Gaza, resulting in numerous casualties and taking hostages, Cohen remains unapologetic about his association with the group.

On social media, he mourned the loss of a “dear friend” who was a retired general with ties to the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.

Cohen’s engagement with Hamas is not limited to legal representation. He has also posted pictures on his social media profiles, showing him with former Hamas leaders, Ahmed Yassin and Ismail Abu Shanab, both of whom were later killed by the Israeli military.

Cohen, primarily residing in the Catskills but occasionally traveling to New York City, claims that he does not receive financial compensation from Hamas for his legal work; he provides his services pro bono. However, his past legal battles have not been without legal repercussions; in 2014, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to file six years’ worth of tax returns.

In addition to representing individuals linked to terrorist organizations, Cohen’s legal career includes high-profile cases such as the representation of Weather Underground terrorist Kathy Boudin and Larry Davis, who infamously shot six NYPD officers in the South Bronx in 1986.

Cohen’s work has garnered a substantial amount of criticism, and his website even has a dedicated section for those who oppose him, aptly named “haters.” Notable figures like Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz have been critical of Cohen’s stance. Dershowitz stressed the distinction between defending the constitutional rights of accused terrorists and endorsing their ongoing terrorist activities, as Cohen seems to be doing.