The anti-Israel displays come as Spain’s government has adopted one of Europe’s most critical positions toward Israel.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The opening of Spain’s annual running of the bulls festival in Pamplona featured anti-Israel demonstrations, continuing a pattern that has become increasingly visible at the event in recent years.

Large crowds gathered for the festival’s traditional opening ceremony, known as the chupinazo, where anti-Israel slogans were shouted moments before the ceremonial fireworks were launched over Plaza Consistorial.

Representing the group Yala Nafarroa con Palestina, Dyna Kharrat addressed the crowd with the chants, “Stop genocide” and “Free Palestine.”

A large banner reading “Death to Israel” was also displayed during this year’s festivities.

Many participants wore the festival’s traditional red handkerchiefs, some of which were printed with a map labeled “Palestine” in place of Israel.

The design resembled the inverted red triangle that has become associated with Palestinian terrorism targeting Israelis and Jews since the Oct. 7 attacks.

The anti-Israel displays come as Spain’s government has adopted one of Europe’s most critical positions toward Israel.

Under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Madrid has repeatedly criticized Israel’s military operations and has supported a series of diplomatic initiatives directed at Israel.

Spain formally recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024 and backed South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The Spanish government has also imposed partial arms trade embargoes involving Israel and has urged the European Union to review its association agreement with the Jewish state.

The political climate has fueled deep domestic division. The pushback extends to the local and institutional levels, with actions such as the Barcelona City Council and local universities previously voting to sever ties with Israel.

Conversely, these measures have faced strong pushback from opposition parties like the center-right People’s Party (PP), which accuses the current coalition government of harboring radical and extreme-left ideologies.

The demonstrations at the festival reflected the broader prominence of anti-Israel activism in Spain, where criticism of Israel has increasingly appeared at public events and political gatherings.

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The Hind Rajab Foundation urged Dutch police to investigate and potentially detain the Israeli lawmakers.

By World Israel News Staff

An anti-Israel organization has filed criminal complaints in the Netherlands against two Israeli lawmakers, seeking their arrest should they enter the country to attend an international parliamentary conference.

The complaints were submitted by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgium-based organization that has pursued legal action against Israeli officials and Israel Defense Forces personnel traveling abroad.

The group’s founder is a former Hezbollah activist.

The latest complaints target Yesh Atid MK Ram Ben Barak and Religious Zionism MK Moshe Solomon, both of whom are expected to travel to the Netherlands to participate in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in The Hague.

In a statement announcing the filing, the Hind Rajab Foundation urged Dutch police “to take immediate action to hold these two individuals accountable and to investigate their criminal responsibility for incitement to genocide.”

According to the complaint, Ben Barak and Solomon have “used their positions” to “advocate for policies aimed at the physical destruction and permanent displacement of the Palestinian population in Gaza.”

The filing alleges that Ben Barak promoted policies that would “promote the dissolution of the Palestinian national group in Gaza, preventing its reconstitution and continuity.”

As evidence, the foundation cited remarks Ben Barak made in November 2023 regarding the possibility of third countries accepting civilians from Gaza during the war.

“It is better to be a refugee in Canada than in Gaza,” Ben Barak said at the time, suggesting that countries around the world could each accept approximately 20,000 refugees as part of an international humanitarian effort.

The foundation also alleged that Solomon was “implicated for championing the re-establishment of illegal settlements in Gaza.” However, the complaint did not cite specific public statements by Solomon in support of that allegation.

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Rouvikonas said the patrols were intended to confront what it called growing “Israeli and Zionist infiltration” of Thessaloniki.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Greek Jewish organizations, backed by major international Jewish groups, sharply condemned the far-left anarchist group Rouvikonas after it organized what it called “anti-Zionist patrols” through the streets of Thessaloniki, saying the radical groups are intimidating Jews and Israelis and are similar to Nazi-era assault squads.

The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) described the demonstrations as an antisemitic display of fanaticism, saying the black-shirted activists’ tactics mirrored those of Nazi stormtroopers who targeted Jews.

The organization warned that attacks directed at Jews ultimately threaten democratic society as a whole.

KIS also noted that the patrols took place almost exactly 95 years after organized mobs and “assault squads” burned Thessaloniki’s Campbell Jewish quarter in 1931, calling the timing a grim historical parallel.

The European Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Congress also condemned the demonstrations, expressing concern over what they described as vigilante-style intimidation targeting tourists, residents, and business owners.

The reaction came after Rouvikonas held marches through Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, alongside members of the “Permanent Struggle for Class Liberation” and the “Thessaloniki Liberation Initiative.” Participants wore black shirts bearing Palestinian flags as they moved through the city.

Rouvikonas said the patrols were intended to confront what it called growing “Israeli and Zionist infiltration” of Thessaloniki, alleging that Israeli investors were buying property and contributing to the displacement of local residents.

The group claimed Israelis were investing money “bloodied by the genocide” in real estate and tourism properties and alleged that Israeli investments formed part of a broader effort to expand Israel’s economic and political influence abroad.

It also vowed to continue opposing Israel’s presence in Greece as long as the Greek government maintains military and commercial ties with Israel. Greek authorities have opened a preliminary investigation into the demonstrations.

The Thessaloniki district attorney’s office is examining whether organizers and participants may have committed offenses related to incitement to hatred and violence.

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said those involved “should be brought to justice,” adding that the Greek state would not tolerate vigilante-style behavior.

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In her social media post complaining about the ban, she repeatedly referred to Israel as an “apartheid regime” and accused the country of “genocide.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs has recommended barring Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour from entering the country, with Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli saying the decision is based on her activism and involvement in campaigns targeting Israel.

According to the ministry, the recommendation calls for a complete ban on Sarsour’s entry into Israel.

Sarsour confirmed that she had been barred from entering Israel and said the decision would prevent her from visiting family members.

In a social media post complaining about the ban, she repeatedly referred to Israel as an “apartheid regime” and accused it of “genocide” in social media posts.

Chikli said the move followed what he described as a thorough investigation conducted by the ministry.

Sarsour, who was born and raised in New York, is a Palestinian-American activist and former executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. She gained national prominence as a progressive political organizer and served as one of the national co-chairs of the 2017 Women’s March.

The ministry cited Sarsour’s role in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America, and her activism related to Israel as reasons for the recommendation.

In a post on X, Chikli wrote: “Sovereign nations protect their borders. Israel will no longer open its gates to those who work to destroy it.”

He added: “Following a thorough investigation by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, I have recommended a complete ban on Linda Sarsour’s entry into Israel.”

Chikli described Sarsour as “a leading figure in the BDS movement and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), an organization whose factions openly celebrated the October 7 massacre.”

He also accused her of activities directed against Israeli institutions and military-related interests.

“She has incited students on American campuses, led campaigns to sabotage Microsoft’s defense contracts with the IDF, and specifically targeted Unit 8200. Her central goal is to isolate and weaken the Jewish state.”

“Whoever dedicates their life to isolating and harming Israel will not walk our streets. Period.”

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Criticism of Israel has remained a central theme of Avila Chevalier’s political message.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic Socialist congressional candidate and former organizer of Columbia University’s anti-Israel encampment movement, backing her campaign against five-term Representative Adriano Espaillat in New York’s 13th Congressional District.

Avila Chevalier welcomed the endorsement on social media, linking her campaign to Mamdani’s political agenda.

“I look forward to fighting for our shared vision of a more affordable New York — one where we invest in our communities, not in bombs abroad — in Congress,” Avila Chevalier wrote on X.

The candidate is seeking to represent a district that includes upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx.

Her platform combines local priorities such as affordable housing, federal investment in public housing repairs and abolishing ICE with a foreign policy agenda centered on opposition to US military assistance to Israel.

She has publicly supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and has repeatedly called for ending military aid to Israel.

Avila Chevalier has also said she would vote for the Block the Bombs Act, legislation aimed at preventing the transfer of certain US-made offensive weapons to Israel.

Her activism has extended beyond electoral politics.

In April, she said she was arrested while demonstrating outside the offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand during a protest urging them to oppose weapons sales to Israel.

Before entering the congressional race, Avila Chevalier was involved in Columbia University’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment and helped organize anti-Israel demonstrations on campus.

The encampment emerged in the spring of 2024 as students demanded divestment from Israel and protested the war.

The protest movement quickly spread to universities across the country, drawing national attention.

The demonstrations became the subject of scrutiny amid debates over antisemitism and ultimately resulted in mass arrests and federal investigations.

Mamdani’s endorsement continues a pattern in which he has backed congressional candidates who oppose US military support for Israel.

All congressional candidates endorsed by the mayor have advocated ending or significantly limiting military assistance to the Jewish state.

Throughout her campaign, criticism of Israel has remained a central theme of Avila Chevalier’s political message.

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Explosive new report sheds light on the powerful global network behind hundreds of anti-Israel protests, linking radical leftist movements and Islamist organizations in a coordinated antisemitic campaign.

By World Israel News Staff

A sweeping investigation by Fox News Digital is drawing attention to what it describes as a massive, coordinated international network of anti-Israel activism that critics say increasingly crosses the line into outright antisemitism.

The report says that more than 425 organizations across 39 countries are involved in organizing or promoting “Nakba 78” demonstrations marking the anniversary of Israel’s founding.

More than 700 protests, rallies, marches, and campus actions were reportedly planned worldwide, stretching from the United States and Canada to Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.

According to the investigation, the network includes an alliance of radical left-wing activist groups, Islamist organizations, communist movements, pro-Palestinian advocacy groups, and anti-Western coalitions operating under a shared anti-Israel agenda.

The combined financial infrastructure behind many of these organizations is estimated at nearly $1 billion annually through donations, nonprofit funding, international partnerships, and activist networks.

The demonstrations highlighted in the report took place in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Paris, Toronto, Sydney, and Berlin.

In many cases, protesters allegedly carried signs accusing Israel of “genocide,” compared Israelis to Nazis, praised “resistance,” or chanted slogans critics argue targeted Jews more broadly rather than specific Israeli government policies.

Fox cited concerns from Jewish organizations and security experts who warned that anti-Zionist activism is increasingly being used as a vehicle for antisemitic rhetoric and intimidation. Jewish students on several university campuses reportedly described feeling unsafe amid aggressive demonstrations, encampments, and anti-Israel protests tied to the broader movement.

Among the organizations cited were groups that have previously faced accusations of extremist affiliations or support for radical anti-Israel campaigns.

The investigation alleges that many activist coalitions coordinate messaging online, distribute protest toolkits, provide graphics and slogans, and organize synchronized demonstrations across multiple countries.

Social media has also played a central role in amplifying the movement globally, allowing organizers to rapidly mobilize crowds and spread coordinated narratives within hours.

The report pointed to examples of identical slogans, graphics, and messaging appearing simultaneously at demonstrations thousands of miles apart.

Fox News also highlighted growing cooperation between radical Western activist movements and Islamist groups united by hostility toward Israel and opposition to Western foreign policy.

Analysts quoted in the investigation argued that this alliance has helped transform anti-Israel activism into a broader ideological movement targeting Zionism, nationalism, capitalism, and Western institutions simultaneously.

The findings come amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents worldwide following Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre in Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza.

Authorities in multiple Western countries have warned in recent months about escalating threats against Jewish institutions, synagogues, and community centers linked to tensions surrounding anti-Israel demonstrations.

The investigation describes the “Nakba 78” mobilization as one of the largest globally coordinated anti-Israel protest efforts in recent years — and one that many Jewish communities increasingly view not as legitimate political criticism, but as part of a broader campaign of hostility directed against Jews worldwide.

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An anti-Israel protest outside a Manhattan synagogue turned violent, leaving a police officer wounded.

By World Israel News Staff

Around 100 protesters chanting pro-terror slogans, waving Hezbollah flags and displaying imagery associated with Hamas rioted outside a New York City synagogue Tuesday night, clashing violently with police.

Officers had set up barriers to protect congregants and visitors at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, where a real estate event promoting properties in Israel was taking place. Demonstrators gathered to protest the event, but the situation quickly escalated as rioters stormed the perimeter and confronted police.

According to the NYPD, one officer was hospitalized with a leg injury sustained during the clashes. Authorities said the officer was treated and is expected to recover.

Chants calling for Israel’s destruction rang out from the crowd, including “Death to the IDF,” “It is right to resist, Israel should not exist,” and “There is only one solution: Intifada, revolution.”

Others held Hezbollah flags and wore clothing with inverted red triangles, a symbol used by the Hamas terror group to signify the targeting of Jews.

Karen Lichtbraun, co-sponsor of the pro-Israel advocacy group Herut New York City, which organized a counter-protest, slammed the demonstrators.

Speaking to the New York Post, she described them as “brainwashed fools.”

“Israel does not occupy anything. It’s the Jewish homeland. And this is all anti-Zionism, which is antisemitism, which is Jew-hate,” she added.

The main organizer of the protest was the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation Al-Awda in New York City and New Jersey (PAL-Awda NY/NJ), an anti-Israel group that regularly employs inflammatory rhetoric against the Jewish state.

The group organized a similar protest at a New York synagogue last November that also ended in violence.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, known for his outspoken pro-Palestinian views, issued a statement condemning the real estate event itself. Through a spokesperson, Mamdani said he was “deeply opposed” to the event because it “includes the promotion of the sale of land in settlements in the ‘Occupied West Bank.’”

However, the mayor did not condemn the protesters or their violent rhetoric, instead stating they were exercising their First Amendment rights. He added that the mayor’s office remains “committed to ensuring safe entry and exit from any house of worship.”

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Israel’s Foreign Ministry: “This flotilla, led by Hamas, is another provocation intended to divert attention from Hamas’ refusal to disarm.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel transferred approximately 175 pro-Palestinian activists from the intercepted Global Sumud flotilla to Crete after seizing vessels bound for Gaza, while detaining two individuals for further questioning, officials said Friday.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said all participants from the most recent Gaza-bound flotilla had arrived on the Greek island, except for two activists taken to Israel following recommendations from Shin Bet intelligence officials.

The two were identified as Saif Abu Kashk, suspected of links to a terrorist organization, and Thiago Avila, described as an organizer of the current and previous flotillas and suspected of illegal activity.

The Israeli Navy boarded and seized more than 20 ships in international waters off Crete, citing enforcement of the maritime blockade on Gaza.

Following coordination with the Greek government, Israeli vessels transported the activists to shore, where they disembarked on a beach.

According to reports, dozens of other boats associated with the flotilla remained at sea near Crete, while the intercepted vessels were taken into Israeli control.

Organizers of the flotilla condemned the operation, describing it as “piracy” and “kidnapping.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar defended the action, calling the flotilla a “PR stunt” and thanking Greece for its cooperation in receiving the participants.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “This flotilla, led by Hamas, is another provocation intended to divert attention from Hamas’ refusal to disarm — and to serve the public relations interests of professional provocateurs.”

The operation followed what was described as a “second flotilla” attempting to breach the blockade, with activists saying they were carrying humanitarian aid.

Separately, Thiago Avila has been accused of “sexual misconduct” involving at least three volunteers during the voyage, with allegations that he used his position to engage in relationships with multiple participants under his authority.

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The operation is being planned as a single coordinated effort, combining multiple organizations under one framework rather than separate sailings.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) said it is organizing a large-scale maritime mission for spring 2026, bringing together a range of international groups and continuing its accusations against Israel.

Organizers said the initiative will involve more than 100 vessels carrying supplies.

The operation is being planned as a single coordinated effort, combining multiple organizations under one framework rather than separate sailings.

Participating groups are expected to include Thousand Madleens to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Freedom and Sumud Flotilla Eurasia, the Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, the Global Movement to Gaza, Sumud Nusantara, and the People’s Flotilla Movement.

A central element of the plan is a medical fleet that organizers said will include more than 1,000 health care professionals.

The teams are expected to bring equipment and supplies and operate alongside medical personnel in Gaza.

The flotilla is also expected to include educators, health care specialists, and reconstruction teams intended to assist in rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

Organizers described the initiative as the “largest civilian maritime action for Palestine to date,” and said it was developed in response to calls for coordinated international civilian involvement.

They outlined six objectives for the mission, including breaking what they termed Israel’s “illegal siege,” establishing a maritime corridor, mobilizing global action, delivering humanitarian aid, supporting reconstruction, and confronting what they described as international complicity.

The statement said the initiative is independent and not affiliated with any government or political party, and framed the effort as an alternative to existing aid and reconstruction mechanisms.

Organizers added that additional details, including Mediterranean departure points, participating delegations, and phases of the mission, are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

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Kasparian accused Israel of portraying itself as a victim while engaging in widespread violence.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Ana Kasparian, executive producer and host of the left-wing online program The Young Turks, engaged aggressively on X Thursday with critics who characterized her commentary on Israel as antisemitic.

She had blamed potential military confrontation with between the US and Iran on Israel.

Kasparian also praised conservative media figure Tucker Carlson for opposing US military action against Iran that she said would be carried out on Israel’s behalf.

As users challenged her position in the replies, Kasparian responded with profanity and ethnically-charged language directed at her critics.

In one exchange, she wrote, “Hey, b****, the goyim are waking the f*** up. Deal with it.”

Several hours later, Kasparian published a longer follow-up post, which she pinned to her profile, stating she stood by her remarks and would not apologize.

In that message, she wrote: “Israel is evil, genocidal, and has destroyed our country.”

Kasparian argued that opposition to Israeli policy is routinely dismissed as bigotry.

Israel, she wrote, is “about to drag us into another war,” adding that critics are branded “ANTISEMITE” when they oppose what she called Israel’s agenda.

She also claimed that such accusations are used to suppress dissent. “They smear you to silence you and all the Jewish individuals who don’t subscribe to their disgusting behavior,” she wrote.

In additional posts, Kasparian wrote: “Israel loves to play victim as they bomb 7 countries, steal land, and openly air their genocidal intentions,” adding that US support for Israel is “a stain on our country.”

Kasparian concluded her thread by rejecting calls to walk back her statements. “Many have woken up to this reality,” she wrote. “Call me whatever you want. The truth matters, and I’ll never apologize for repeating it.”

The posts were made amid heightened debate in the United States over Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of military action in the Middle East, issues Kasparian referenced repeatedly in her comments.

Kasparian did not issue any clarification or additional statement beyond the X posts. Representatives for The Young Turks also did not publicly comment on the remarks or the reaction they generated.

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Another element of the billboard labels Israel as the “51st state of the United States of America.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A large billboard erected in central Tehran this week threatened Israel with destruction as President Donald Trump continues to consider possible military action against Iran, according to imagery circulating from the Iranian capital.

The billboard, installed in Palestine Square, depicts burning buildings and a damaged sign reading “Welcome to Israel,” which has been defaced with the phrase “Welcome to Hell.”

Above the scene, the display declares, “A clear target: Trump’s 51st state,” a reference to Israel.

Another element of the billboard labels Israel as the “51st state of the United States of America,” echoing longstanding Iranian claims that the Jewish state operates as an extension of U.S. influence in the region.

The display was reported amid escalating tensions involving Washington, Jerusalem, and Tehran, as Trump weighs potential military options against Iran.

Reports in recent days have indicated that the US president is considering strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, a prospect that has heightened rhetoric across the region.

The billboard appeared as regional naval deployments increase and as nuclear talks are expected to take place in Geneva.

Officials on all sides have intensified public messaging as diplomatic and military pressure builds.

Iranian authorities and affiliated organizations have frequently used prominent public spaces in Palestine Square to broadcast anti-Israel and anti-American messages, particularly during periods of elevated regional confrontation.

The square has long served as a focal point for state-sanctioned displays conveying political and military threats.

Previous billboards in the area have featured imagery of missile launches, military hardware, and symbolic attacks aimed at Israel.

Such displays have often been timed to coincide with major political developments or military activity involving Iran, the United States, or Israeli forces.

The latest billboard continues that pattern, presenting Israel as a direct target while linking it rhetorically to the United States.

Neither Iranian officials nor Israeli authorities issued immediate public responses specifically addressing the display.

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Of 36 complaints submitted by CAMERA relating to the Arabic-language service’s coverage since that date, the Executive Complaints Unit has rejected 34.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The BBC is facing renewed criticism over its handling of complaints after its internal Executive Complaints Unit ruled it was acceptable for a BBC Arabic guest to describe Israel as an “occupation” and Israelis as “human fragments,” prompting accusations that the broadcaster is effectively judging itself, according to the Jewish Chronicle.

Remarks made by Palestinian poet Al-Mutawakel Taha during an appearance on the BBC Arabic program “Hardtalk” were the focus of the complaint.

The Executive Complaints Unit concluded that the language reflected the guest’s personal views and did not require intervention by the presenter, rejecting a complaint filed by media watchdog CAMERA.

Dozens of rulings that have favored BBC Arabic since October 7, 2023. Of 36 complaints submitted by CAMERA relating to the Arabic-language service’s coverage since that date, the Executive Complaints Unit has rejected 34. Two complaints have been upheld, with decisions issued in recent weeks.

Complaints rejected by the unit include allegations that BBC Arabic failed to report violence against Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, omitted references to killings carried out by Palestinian prisoners released in exchanges, and interviewed only pro-Palestinian students when covering Gaza encampments at British universities.

The Executive Complaints Unit reviews appeals after complaints are dismissed at the first stage by the broadcaster.

Because BBC Arabic operates as part of the World Service, it falls outside the regulatory authority of Ofcom, making the unit’s rulings final.

Senior BBC executives have previously pointed to the Arabic service’s record at the Executive Complaints Unit as evidence that allegations of bias are unfounded.

That defense has drawn scrutiny following a report last year by independent adviser Michael Prescott, which devoted its longest section to BBC Arabic and identified disparities between its coverage and that of the BBC’s English-language output.

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The app ranked second overall in downloads behind ChatGPT and first among social networking platforms. 

UpScrolled climbed to the top of Apple’s App Store rankings this week as users sought alternatives following the partial sale of TikTok’s US operations, but the fast-growing platform has also been filled with antisemitic and anti-Israel material.

On Wednesday, the app ranked second overall in downloads behind ChatGPT and first among social networking platforms. By Thursday morning, founder Issam Hijazi announced it had reached one million users, up from roughly 90,000 regular users earlier this month.

Hijazi, born in Jordan and now living in Australia, has described UpScrolled as a response to what he calls censorship of pro-Palestinian voices on mainstream platforms. Speaking at ArabCon in Dearborn, Michigan, in September, he said the Gaza war and the deaths of 60 members of his family changed his perspective on working in the tech industry.

“I was one of those users. I was posting about what’s happening in the genocide,” he said. “I’ve got friends all over Europe, the US, and everywhere [and I was] asking them, do you see this content? They say, what content?”

The app’s rise comes as an investor group led by Larry Ellison reached a deal to purchase TikTok’s US operations under US law, a move backed by Jewish Federations of North America and other organizations that cited antisemitism on TikTok as a concern.

Influencer Guy Christensen urged followers to download UpScrolled, calling it a platform free of billionaire control and censorship. Within days, users encountered posts praising Iran’s Supreme Leader, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas, along with Holocaust denial and slurs against Jews.

“This is a safe space to openly say, I stand with Khamenei, Hezbollah, Houthis, & Hamas #ResistanceIsNotTerrorism,” read one post highlighted on the app’s discover page.

UpScrolled’s website states that it prohibits hate speech, violence, and support for terrorist groups, and offers in-app reporting tools. Spokesperson Gabriella Bord said moderators had struggled to keep pace with the surge in activity and were expanding trust and safety efforts in response.

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Organizers claim the men were “wrongfully imprisoned” and allege their prosecution was driven by “Zionist pressure.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Anti-Israel activist groups across the United States have launched a “week of solidarity” for two imprisoned members of the Holy Land Foundation, a charity whose leaders were convicted in 2008 of channeling millions of dollars to Hamas.

The campaign centers on Shukri Abu Baker and Ghassan Elashi, who remain behind bars. Three others convicted in the same case have since been released. Organizers claim the men were “wrongfully imprisoned” and allege their prosecution was driven by “Zionist pressure.”

Events are scheduled this week in Austin, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York City, backed by groups including Within Our Lifetime and the Palestine Solidarity Working Group. Planned activities include poetry readings, screenings of an Al Jazeera documentary on the case, a book launch by Abu Baker, and coordinated letter-writing efforts to the prisoners.

The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development presented itself as a humanitarian nonprofit, but federal prosecutors said the organization instead diverted large sums to Hamas, which the US has designated as a terrorist organization.

In November 2008, five officials from the foundation were convicted in a Dallas federal court on 108 counts tied to transferring $12.4 million to the group.

The case, formally titled United States v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, was described at the time as the largest terrorism-financing prosecution in US history. Investigators found that funds were routed through Palestinian charitable networks known as zakat committees, which authorities said were controlled by Hamas and used to assist the families of suicide bombers and imprisoned terrorists.

Despite the convictions, the case has become a rallying point in some anti-Zionist circles, where the men are portrayed as charitable workers rather than terror financiers.

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Jennifer L. Mnookin had condemned Hamas and enforced campus protest rules at UW-Madison.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

A vehemently anti-Israel student group at Columbia University on Monday attacked the unanimous appointment of Jennifer L. Mnookin as the school’s first female Jewish president.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a primary organizer of pro-Hamas protests, illegal tent encampments and building occupations that marred campus life during Israel’s war with Hamas, accused Mnookin of suppressing activism during her tenure as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“As chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, she called riot police to beat up and arrest students for their Gaza Solidarity Encampment. She’ll fit in perfectly with the rest of the school’s fascist admin,” the group wrote on X.

In May 2024, Mnookin authorized law enforcement to dismantle an unlawful encampment on UW–Madison’s Library Mall after protesters ignored repeated orders over two days to remove tents that violated campus rules banning overnight camping.

Students were warned multiple times and given the opportunity to leave peacefully.

While most complied, about 30 refused. Twelve were arrested, including four charged with assaulting officers or resisting arrest; four deputies were injured in the clashes.

In a letter to the campus community afterward, Mnookin reaffirmed her support for free expression and civil disobedience on “deeply felt” issues, but stressed that civil disobedience requires respect for shared laws and acceptance of legal consequences.

“That is what distinguishes civil disobedience from mere lawlessness,” she wrote.

The 58-year-old legal scholar was among the first university heads to publicly denounce Hamas for “the massive scale and brutality” of its Oct. 7, 2023, invasion and massacre in southern Israel.

On Oct. 11, she told students, faculty and staff: “I stand with our community in condemning the vicious terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians last weekend.”

No matter what political views people espouse, she added, “The massacre of ordinary citizens, in their homes, at music concerts, in their cars and on the streets of their villages, is a horror that we must all, in our common humanity, condemn.”

Mnookin urged members of the campus community to focus on shared values and express political views “peacefully and respectfully.”

Announcing her appointment, Columbia University Board of Trustees co-chairs David J. Greenwald and Jeh C. Johnson praised Mnookin as “a distinguished scholar” who currently “leads a complex institution with clarity and vision.”

“She is also a keen listener who builds consensus and does not shy away from making difficult decisions when necessary,” they said, adding that she would lead Columbia with “a firm commitment to the university’s cherished values.”

Columbia has been widely criticized as one of the most hostile campuses for Jewish students since the start of the Gaza war, with anti-Israel protests frequently devolving into antisemitic harassment and physical intimidation.

Following a federal investigation into its handling of antisemitism, Columbia agreed to pay more than $200 million to settle discrimination claims and adopted new policies for addressing antisemitic incidents.

CUAD was formed in November 2023, a month into the war, after Columbia suspended Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) over their support for Hamas and antisemitic activities.

Although it comprises dozens of student groups, CUAD is not a registered student organization.

Mnookin is scheduled to officially assume office on July 1.

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The organization did not specify the legal grounds for the complaint or what charges it intends to pursue.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

An anti-Israel advocacy group said it plans to file a criminal complaint with Canadian authorities against Israeli comedian Guy Hochman ahead of his scheduled performance in Toronto, accusing him of incitement and propaganda related to the Gaza war.

The Hind Rajab Foundation said Sunday that it would seek legal action in Canada in connection with Hochman’s appearance later that day.

In a post on X, the group labeled Hochman a “war propagandist and inciter” and accused him of praising Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The organization did not specify the legal grounds for the complaint or what charges it intends to pursue.

The foundation said it was acting in coordination with Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights, which also announced plans to file a complaint.

In its own X post, CLAIHR wrote that Hochman “plans to come to Toronto on January 19” and alleged that he “glorifies and incites war crimes and genocide.”

The group said it was working with HRF “to see that he’s stopped at the border or arrested if he does.”

HRF, named after a five-year-old Palestinian girl whose death became a symbol during the Gaza war, said it has submitted dozens of complaints in approximately 15 countries targeting Israel Defense Forces personnel.

The group said its actions are aimed at holding individuals accountable for alleged violations connected to the conflict.

The organizations accused Hochman of political activity and rhetoric they claim violate Canadian immigration and public order rules.

They also cited his past military service, describing him as a former Israeli combat soldier who later turned to comedy and online content.

According to the groups, Hochman has gained prominence by producing videos featuring Israeli soldiers in military settings. They added that he was rejected as a reservist after October 7, 2023.

Hochman responded publicly by sharing HRF’s post and saying his Toronto show would proceed as planned.

In a message posted on X, he wrote that he was “excited to represent the optimistic Israeli spirit, the Jewish courage, and the IDF soldiers fighting to protect the citizens of the Jewish state.”

“Am Yisrael Chai. With pride and a smile,” he added.

Canadian authorities have not publicly commented on the announced complaints or on whether any action would be taken ahead of the performance.

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