Columbia protester charged with hate crimes linked to Hamas military wing

Federal prosecutors say Tarek Bazrouk was connected to Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades and carried out antisemitic violence during NYC protests.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

A New York man charged with a series of antisemitic hate crimes had direct ties to Hamas’ armed wing, according to federal prosecutors.

In an exclusive New York Post report on Wednesday, 20-year-old Tarek Bazrouk was allegedly connected to the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military arm, while participating in anti-Israel protests on Columbia University’s campus.

Federal documents claim Bazrouk was a member of a chat group that received messages from Abu Obeida, the al-Qassam Brigades’ spokesperson.

Investigators also found pro-Hamas propaganda on his phone, including images of terrorist leaders and memes expressing loyalty to the group.

One meme read: “By God, I would not trade the Al Qassam Brigades for the world and everything in it.”

Though not a Columbia student, Bazrouk joined campus protests in April 2024 and allegedly texted a friend that he considered lighting someone on fire during the demonstrations.

He frequently wore Hamas-style green headbands and told friends he had relatives in the terrorist group, court filings say.

Bazrouk, a U.S. citizen from New York, is facing three federal hate crime charges. Each carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Prosecutors say his attacks began in April 2024 during a pro-Gaza protest near the New York Stock Exchange, where he allegedly assaulted three Jewish individuals.

In one instance, he was accused of kicking a Jewish college student while being arrested by police.

In December, Bazrouk allegedly punched a Jewish student in the face near Columbia while shouting antisemitic slurs and ranting about Hitler.

A month later, he allegedly assaulted another person draped in an Israeli flag at a protest in Union Square.

According to prosecutors, Bazrouk repeatedly expressed violent hatred toward Jews in private messages.

In one text, he called himself a “Jew hater” and praised God for “getting rid of [Jews].” In another, he said he would “boom boom” any Jewish person he saw.

Federal agents arrested Bazrouk on May 7 and searched his Manhattan home, where they found a replica firearm, multiple knives, including a switchblade, brass knuckles, and $750,000 in cash.

His lawyer claimed the money came from Bazrouk’s job at a Connecticut smoke shop, where he was previously arrested on drug-related charges in late 2024.

Bazrouk also traveled to Judea and Samaria and Jordan in late 2024, raising questions about the nature of his trip.

Prosecutors argued he is a flight risk and a danger to the public, citing his “avowed hatred of Jews,” support for terrorism, and possession of weapons.

Columbia University stated it has no record of Bazrouk being affiliated with the school and condemned antisemitism.

Jewish organizations and student bodies have consistently warned that non-student agitators such as Bazrouk have infiltrated pro-Hamas protests across U.S. campuses.

Al-Qassam BrigadesBazroukColumbia UniversityHamasNew York