Former Palestinian terrorists Hossam Shaheen and Omar Assaf are confirmed as featured speakers at the upcoming People’s Conference for Palestine in Detroit—raising alarm among conservative and security-focused observers.
Shaheen, who was released from Israeli prison in February as part of a hostage exchange, was convicted in 2004 for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and grenade attacks targeting Israeli vehicles. He allegedly recruited operatives and supplied weapons for attempted Jerusalem attacks.
Omar Assaf, a former official in the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), also slated to speak, has ties to a terrorist group. The DFLP was held responsible for the notorious Ma’alot massacre in 1994, where 21 children were killed.
Critics argue that allowing such individuals to headline a public forum normalizes extremist views and could encourage anti-Semitic rhetoric under the guise of activism.
