Black Lives Matter demands 'Palestinian liberation,' receives praise from anti-Israel movement

The political activist organization Black Lives Matter declared this week that it supports "Palestinian liberation," a head-nod to anti-Israeli sentiment as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.

The declaration was warmly received by an anti-Israel movement that seeks to economically destroy Israel.

What did the group say?

Black Lives Matter said it is standing in solidarity with "Palestinian liberation" because it opposes "settler colonialism."

"Black Lives Matter stands in solidarity with Palestinians. We are a movement committed to ending settler colonialism in all forms and will continue to advocate for Palestinian liberation. ( always have. And always will be )," the group tweeted.

In response, the movement that seeks to destroy Israel — Boycott, Divestments, and Sanctions, a movement often described as anti-Semitic — thanked Black Lives Matter for supporting their mission.

"Thank you for your solidarity. From Ferguson to Palestine, our struggles against racism, white supremacy and for a just world are united!" the group tweeted.

What is going on?

Far-left progressives have been outspoken over the last week in their support for Palestine as tensions flare between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

The fighting started May 10 when Hamas terrorists began attacking Israel with missiles following violent clashes between Muslims and Israelis at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Israel has responded with a fierce military campaign, destroying key Hamas targets in Hamas-controlled Gaza. Casualties are mounting on both sides.

The war has reignited rhetoric from Pro-Palestine advocates, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for example, who accuse Israel of operating "apartheid states" like South Africa did for much of the 20th century.

Advocates of "Palestinian liberation" often cite Israeli's occupation of the West Bank, which is split into areas controlled by Palestinian authorities and Israeli authorities. They also cite the ongoing sea, land, and air blockade of the Gaza Strip as further evidence, and claim Arabs in Israel are treated as second-class citizens. They also accuse Israel of committing "war crimes," and blame Israel for Palestinian deaths.

Israel has made it clear, however, that Israeli Defense Forces take special pains to avoid civilian casualties, while Hamas terrorists use their own citizens as "human shields," firing rockets from dense residential areas that often fail to make it across the border.

International pressure has increased for a ceasefire in recent days, but doing so would allow Hamas to win, an Israeli official said Tuesday.

"We say to stop prematurely is to give Hamas the victory it wants," the Israeli official told ABC News. "Hamas has to come out of this defeated."