Israeli court sides with pro-Hamas professor in unfair dismissal lawsuit

An Israeli labor court ruled a professor’s dismissal over posts justifying the Oct. 7 massacres lacked due process.

By World Israel News Staff

An Israeli professor who was fired over social media posts justifying the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacres has been awarded compensation for unfair dismissal by a local labor court.

Dr. Varda Sadeh, a lecturer at Kaye Academic College of Education — a teacher-training institution — was terminated after publishing posts during and after the Oct. 7 attacks that described Hamas’s actions as “resistance.”

On the day of the attacks, Sadeh shared footage of the invasion and wrote, “even a cat scratches when it’s been cornered,” adding that “one day, the occupied will gather strength and rise up.”

In a separate post, she wrote, “Gaza will not be flattened… Hamas and Islamic Jihad will not stop resisting.”

According to the college, Sadeh also referred to Israeli soldiers as “murderers” and described the IDF as a “terror army” in additional posts.

Her remarks drew criticism from the administration, colleagues, and students, many of whom expressed concern over her views, particularly given her role in training future educators.

The college subsequently dismissed Sadeh, who then filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination.

Last week, Beersheba Labor Court Judge Avigail Borowitz ruled in Sadeh’s favor, finding that the college had failed to provide proper due process in accordance with its own policies.

Sadeh had taught at the institution for 28 years prior to her dismissal.

In her ruling, Borowitz said that the decision was partially aimed at protecting free speech, writing that “especially in times like these, we must respect and contain a diversity of opinions and allow open and critical discourse.”

The court awarded Sadeh compensation totaling 210,000 shekels (approximately $70,000).

Kaye Academic College of Education has said it plans to appeal the decision.

The sister of former hostage Yarden Bibas teaches at the school.

His wife, Shiri, and young sons, Ariel and Kfir, were kidnapped from their home on Oct. 7, abducted to Gaza, and later murdered.