Abdelrahman Ayyash of the Freedom Initiative praises Hamas for ‘babysitting Israeli kids and babies’
Palestinians celebrate as they ride on an Israeli military vehicle that was seized by Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated areas of southern Israel, October 7, 2023. (Bassam Masoud/Reuters)
An official at a human rights group that claims to lobby for the release of political prisoners blamed Israel as the “sole reason Hamas exists” and praised the terrorist group for “babysitting Israeli kids & babies” that it took hostage.
Abdelrahman Ayyash, who works at the D.C.-based Freedom Initiative, made the comments as his organization has been pressing Congress for the release of Muslim Brotherhood cleric Salah Soltan from Egyptian prison.
His remarks could raise questions about the Freedom Initiative, which describes itself as “dedicated to advocating for prisoners wrongfully detained in the Middle East.” The group was founded by Soltan’s children, Mohamed and Hanaa, who have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Democrats while attempting to free their father.
“A recent Hamas video shows that its soldiers took their time after infiltrating the borders to babysit Israeli kids & babies for several hours without any response from the IDF,” wrote Ayyash in an Oct. 14 Twitter post, which has since been deleted. The post included a video of Hamas terrorists in military garb and clutching weapons while holding Israeli child and baby hostages.
Ayyash also claimed Israel was the “sole reason Hamas exists” and argued that Israel should be blamed if any Jewish hostages taken by Hamas are killed.
“The possibility of a safe return for all hostages exists. If one is harmed, it’s due to Israel’s disregard for life, Palestinian or otherwise,” he wrote.
Ayyash, a Muslim Brotherhood researcher who listed himself as a “case manager” for the Freedom Initiative on LinkedIn, promoted comparisons between Ukrainian soldiers defending their country against Russia’s invasion and Hamas terrorists who massacred Israeli civilians. He retweeted a post that said “When Ukrainians resist it’s heroic. Agreed. When Palestinians resist its ‘terrorism’ and condemnation.” Another post he retweeted claimed there was a “discrepancy between many of those celebrating Ukrainian resistance but now condemn Palestinian resistance … You are either with people’s right to resist an army occupation or not!” Although the Freedom Initiative states that its mission is “advocating for prisoners wrongfully detained in the Middle East,” it has not yet issued any comment on the nearly 200 Israeli hostages, including some American citizens, taken by Hamas.
The Freedom Initiative and Ayyash did not respond to a request for comment.
Democrats who received donations from the Freedom Initiatives founders Mohamed and Hanaa Soltan have called on the Egyptian government to release their father Salah Soltan, a U.S. green card holder who was imprisoned during Egypt’s crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. While Salah Soltan has a history of calling for the slaughter of Israelis, his supporters say he renounced his anti-Semitism in prison.
Mohamed Soltan gave $5,800 last year to then-Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Robert Menendez (D., N.J.), who posted on Twitter in support of the elder Soltan’s release last May. He also gave $5,800 to Rep. Don Beyer (D., Va.) in 2021. Beyer in May tweeted that the cleric “should never have been imprisoned to begin with, but the conditions he faces—including denial of essential health care—are now threatening his life.” Menendez has since been charged with conspiring to act as an agent of the Egyptian government while serving as a senator.
Hanaa Soltan also gave $47,000 to President Joe Biden’s campaign and $18,600 to the Democratic National Committee in 2020.
Mohamed is married to a legislative aide to Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Ben Cardin (D., Md.), Habiba Shebita. In August, Cardin called on Egypt to release Salah Soltan from detention, saying that the cleric disavowed his “previously held anti-Semitic positions and remarks” while in prison.
In 2011, Salah Soltan called for the assassination of Israel’s ambassador to Egypt and issued a fatwa that “Any Zionist—tourist or other—who enters Egypt must be killed.” He also claimed that Jews kill Christians and use their blood to make special bread for Passover.
How do the Soltan siblings’ political activities and advocacy for their father’s release reflect on their support for terrorism?
Er who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for inciting violence and terrorism. Salah Soltan, a Muslim Brotherhood cleric, had issued a fatwa calling for the killing of Jewish tourists in Egypt.
The Soltan siblings have been actively involved in Democratic politics, contributing thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns and politicians. They have also advocated for the release of their father, claiming that he is a political prisoner.
Abdelrahman Ayyash’s comments praising Hamas for “babysitting Israeli kids and babies” and blaming Israel for the existence of Hamas raise serious concerns about the Freedom Initiative, an organization that claims to advocate for prisoners wrongfully detained in the Middle East. Ayyash’s remarks not only endorse terrorism but also show a lack of concern for the well-being of innocent children and babies.
The video posted by Ayyash on Twitter, which has since been deleted, showed Hamas terrorists holding Israeli child and baby hostages. Ayyash stated that if any Jewish hostages taken by Hamas are harmed, Israel should be blamed for their disregard for life. Such a statement demonstrates a complete disregard for the responsibility of Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization, for their actions.
Ayyash, who is formally associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, has also made troubling comparisons between the Ukrainian soldiers defending their country against Russia’s invasion and Hamas terrorists who have carried out attacks against Israeli civilians. By promoting such comparisons, Ayyash attempts to downplay and justify the violence perpetrated by Hamas.
It is noteworthy that the Freedom Initiative has remained silent on the issue of the Israeli hostages, including American citizens, taken by Hamas. This lack of response raises questions about the organization’s commitment to its stated mission of advocating for prisoners wrongfully detained in the Middle East.
The Freedom Initiative and Abdelrahman Ayyash have not provided any response to requests for comment regarding these troubling statements. The organization’s founders, Mohamed and Hanaa Soltan, who have donated to Democratic campaigns, must be held accountable for their association with an individual who endorses terrorism and promotes harmful narratives.
It is essential for human rights organizations and political leaders to condemn and distance themselves from individuals or groups that support and glorify terrorists. The safety and well-being of innocent children and babies should always be a priority, and any attempt to justify or praise their exploitation by terrorists is abhorrent.
The international community must stand united against terrorism and work towards a peaceful resolution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This requires acknowledging and condemning the actions of terrorist organizations like Hamas and supporting efforts to ensure the safety and security of all individuals in the region.
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