A Hamas operative who held Israeli hostages in Gaza claimed the terror group coordinates with U.S. campus protesters and media outlets to spread anti-Semitism, according to a federal lawsuit filed in Washington state. The lawsuit, brought by former hostages Almog Meir Jan, Shlomi Ziv, and Andrey Kozlov, alleges that their captor, Abdallah Aljamal, boasted of Hamas’s collaboration with American allies to promote its propaganda during their captivity.
The hostages, abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, were held in Aljamal’s home in Gaza for 246 days before being rescued by Israeli forces. Aljamal, who was killed during the rescue operation, served as a correspondent for the Palestine Chronicle, a U.S.-based nonprofit news outlet. The lawsuit claims the Chronicle provided Aljamal with a platform to disseminate Hamas propaganda, thereby offering material support to a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
According to court documents, Aljamal told the hostages that “Hamas was in contact and actively coordinating with its affiliates in the media and on college campuses.” He further stated that “Hamas was going to ensure that the United States, as well as Jews and Israelis, are hated everywhere.”
The lawsuit also highlights that Aljamal showed the hostages news reports of anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, telling them, “You see we have our own people everywhere.”
A federal judge in Washington state has allowed the lawsuit against the Palestine Chronicle to proceed, denying the outlet’s motion to dismiss. The plaintiffs allege that the Chronicle knowingly employed and compensated Aljamal, despite his role in their captivity.
This case underscores concerns about foreign terrorist organizations leveraging U.S.-based platforms and institutions to further their agendas. The hostages’ allegations suggest a deliberate strategy by Hamas to infiltrate American media and academic circles, aiming to spread anti-Israel sentiment and propaganda.
As the lawsuit progresses, it brings to light the potential risks of domestic entities unwittingly or knowingly supporting foreign terrorist activities.
