IfNotNow, Adalah Justice Project claim calls for strike came from Palestinian citizens, not terrorists
(Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Last week, Hamas and other Palestinian terror organizations called for a “global strike” against Israel. Within days, left-wing activist groups in the United States were doing their bidding, calling on their followers to skip work and school while falsely claiming that the strike call came from Palestinian citizens, not terrorists.
In reality, the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces—a coalition that includes representatives from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad—in a Saturday press release asked “the entire globe” to join a Monday strike “against the open genocide in Gaza.” A litany of U.S. anti-Israel activist groups quickly joined in, issuing statements and social media posts that asked Americans to skip work and school and refrain from shopping.
Those statements, however, did not mention that the global strike call came from Hamas and other terror organizations. Instead, left-wing activist groups such as the Adalah Justice Project and The People’s Forum said the “Palestinian people” called for the strike. Anti-Israel group IfNotNow similarly said “Palestinian groups” called for the strike but failed to give examples, while the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter said “Palestinians in Gaza” issued the call. The U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights called on its members to join “the Global Strike for Gaza … called for by Palestinian journalists.”
Hamas’s role in calling for the strike reflects the blurred line between the terror group and pro-Palestinian activists and journalists—both in Gaza and the United States.
The Associated Press and CNN, for example, cut ties last month with a freelance photojournalist accused of coordinating with Hamas ahead of the terror group’s Oct. 7 assault on the Jewish state. That journalist, Hassan Eslaiah, was photographed embracing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and did not wear a press vest or helmet while filming himself in front of a burning Israeli tank during the attack.
Top anti-Israel activists in the United States have also been accused of working to fund Palestinian terrorism. Salah Sarsour, an American Muslims for Palestine board member, raised money for a Hamas front group in the late 1990s, according to an FBI memorandum. Israeli-designated terrorist group Samidoun, meanwhile, is also part of an American dark money network funded by progressive billionaires, the Washington Free Beaconreported last month. According to the Israeli government, Samidoun functions as an arm of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is also part of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces.
The Adalah Justice Project, The People’s Forum, IfNotNow, NYC-DSA, and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights did not return requests for comment.
In addition to the activist groups, American and British media outlets covered the “global strike” without mentioning its origins. The Guardian, for example, said the call for a strike came from “Palestinian leaders” and did not name the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces. Time and Axios did report that the terrorist coalition “issued” the strike call but did not mention the members of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces.
The Guardian told the Free Beacon it stands by its reporting.
Both IfNotNow and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights have received funding from liberal billionaire George Soros. Soros’s Open Society Foundations awarded $400,000 to IfNotNow in 2019 and 2021, and the nonprofit has contributed $700,000 to the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights’ parent organization. IfNotNow activists were behind the November riot outside of the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters, while the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights on Monday organized an illegal protest in the lobby of a Senate office building.
Left-wing Boston city council member Kendra Lara also heeded Hamas’s call to skip work on Monday, saying in a now-deleted social media post that she closed her office “in solidarity with the global call for a ceasefire.”
Why is it concerning that American and British media outlets have omitted crucial details about the origins of the strike and the involvement of terrorist organizations, and what impact does it have on their journalistic integrity
Also failed to mention the connection to Hamas and other terror organizations.
The lack of transparency in reporting on these issues is concerning, as it allows for false narratives to perpetuate and for the true nature of these calls for strikes to be obscured. By presenting the strike as a grassroots movement led by Palestinian citizens, these left-wing activist groups and media outlets are painting a distorted picture of the situation and detracting from the reality of the conflict.
Hamas, as a recognized terrorist organization, has a long history of violence and aggression towards Israel. It has been responsible for countless rocket attacks, suicide bombings, and other acts of terrorism that have claimed the lives of innocent Israelis. To ignore their involvement in the call for a strike is to disregard this history and the threat that Hamas poses to peace and stability in the region.
The connection between Hamas and pro-Palestinian activists and journalists is also deeply concerning. The fact that individuals in these roles have been found to have ties to Hamas and have engaged in coordination with the terrorist group raises questions about their objectivity and credibility. It is essential that journalists and activists maintain their independence and avoid any associations that could compromise their integrity.
Furthermore, the allegations of fundraising for terrorism by top anti-Israel activists in the United States highlight the need for scrutiny and accountability. If these individuals are indeed supporting terrorist organizations, it is crucial that they face legal consequences and that their actions are exposed to the public. Funding terrorism only serves to perpetuate violence and hinder the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The failure of the Adalah Justice Project, The People’s Forum, IfNotNow, NYC-DSA, and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights to comment on these issues is disappointing. It is important for organizations and individuals to be transparent and accountable for their actions and affiliations. By refusing to address these concerns, these groups are undermining their credibility and integrity.
The coverage of the strike by American and British media outlets is also problematic. By omitting crucial details about the origins of the strike and the involvement of terrorist organizations, these outlets are failing to provide their audience with the complete picture. Journalistic integrity requires reporting on the facts and presenting a balanced and accurate account of events. The failure to do so in this case raises questions about the motives and biases of these media outlets.
In conclusion, it is clear that the call for a strike against Israel did not come from Palestinian citizens, but rather from Hamas and other terror organizations. The attempt by left-wing activist groups and media outlets to portray the strike as a grassroots movement is misleading and undermines the truth. It is essential that the facts are presented accurately and transparently to ensure a fair understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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