Laila Hzaineh
Overview
Laila Hzaineh has spread hatred of Jews, defended terrorism and whitewashed terrorists. Hzaineh was an activist with Students for Peace and Justice in Palestine (SPJP) at Swarthmore College (Swarthmore) in 2017. As of 2018, Swarthmore SPJP changed their name to Swarthmore Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).Hzaineh has also expressed support for terrorists and violent protesters, demonized Israel and promoted anti-Israel agitators.
In August 2016, Hzaineh indicated on Facebook that she was slated to graduate from Swarthmore in 2020.
Spreading Hatred of Jews
On July 25, 2018, Hzaineh shared a Facebook post that featured photos of French Jewish families moving to Israel.
The post said: “When will this nightmare stop????...400 Zionist French Jewish colonists have arrived today to live at gunpoint on our land. When will Europe stop exporting terrorism to our land??, haven't we got enough from Europe???, and of course they still have the French passport, 24 July 2018.”
Hzaineh added: “And the colonizing continues..”
Defending Terrorism
On July 27, 2017, Hzaineh posted to Facebook: “ما في حدا بضحك أكتر من العربي اللي ما بتسمع منه كلمة واحدة عن كل الاحتلال و كل الارهاب اللي بتعمله اسرائيل في حق الفلسطينيين من 70 سنة وكل القتل و الاعتقالات و تدمير البيوت و الحصار بس لما واحد فلسطيني يهاجم أو يقتل مستوطن بتتحرك مشاعره و بصير كله انسانية وضد الارهاب. مهو نقيلك واحدة! يا ضد العنف بكل الأوقات و من كل الأطراف, يا كل خرا. والسلام عليكم.”
“[No one laughs more than an Arab that you don’t hear one word from him about all the occupation and all the terrorism which Israel does against Palestinians for 70 years and all the killing and arrests and house demolitions and blockade, but when one Palestinian attacks or kills a settler his emotions move and becomes full of humanity and against terrorism. Choose one! Either against violence all the time and from all sides, or eat s**t. And peace be upon you.].”
On April 12, 2018, Hzaineh posted to Facebook: “It's a common zionist argument that the world is ‘singling out’ Israel for its crimes despite other countries' violations.”
Hzaineh claimed: “In fact, the world often singles out the Palestinians and denies them their right to respond to armed attacks with armed resistance.Throughout history oppressed peoples have always resisted their oppressors, and the scale of resistance often relies on the scale of the violations.”
Hzaineh then wrote: “So why is it so f**king controversial for Palestinians to adopt armed resistance against the military force that has been occupying them for 70 years, and that threats the core of their existence? WHY IS THIS MIND BLOWING???”
Whitewashing Terrorists
On June 11, 2018, Hzaineh posted to Facebook several photos whitewashing terrorist Ahmed Manasra.
Ahmed Manasra (sometimes spelled Mansara) and his 15-year-old cousin Hassan went on a stabbing spree in Jerusalem on October 12, 2015, during the Knife Intifada. The pair critically wounded a 13-year-old Israeli boy and moderately wounded a 25-year-old man. Manasra later admitted to investigators: “I went there to stab Jews,” and was convicted on two counts of attempted murder.
On November 13, 2017, Hzaineh posted to Instagram a photo of herself wearing a Keffiyeh, and added: “‘إنني أريدك، بمقدار ما لا أستطيع أخذك’- غسان كنفاني [I want you, in as much as I can’t have you - Ghassan Kanafani].”
Kanafani was a leading member and spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) during the terrorist organization’s early years. Kanafani announced the PFLP’s responsibility for the Lod Airport Massacre of May 1972 and was linked to the airport attackers. The attack killed 26 people and wounded 80 others.
On June 1, 2017, Hzaineh shared to Facebook an AJ+ video whitewashing terrorist Nouf Infiaat, who was shot after she stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier.
On May 8, 2017, Hzaineh posted to Facebook: “‘Israeli occupation forces gunned down 16 year old Fatima Hajeji earlier today. May her soul rest in peace. Can someone please explain to me what exactly did a 16 year old girl do to prompt soldiers from the ‘only democracy in the middle east’ to riddle her body with 20 bullets?’”
On May 8, 2017, Hzaineh posted to Facebook: “‘Israeli occupation forces gunned down 16 year old Fatima Hajeji earlier today. May her soul rest in peace. Can someone please explain to me what exactly did a 16 year old girl do to prompt soldiers from the ‘only democracy in the middle east’ to riddle her body with 20 bullets?’”
In May 2017, Hjeiji was shot after she pulled out a knife and ran toward a group of Israeli police officers while shouting “Allahu Akhbar.” Police reportedly “found that the teen was carrying a note in which she said goodbye to her family and referred to herself as a martyr.”
Support for Terrorists
On May 6, 2017, Hzaineh shared to Facebook a Swarthmore SPJP video of her and other Swarthmore SPJP members participating in a “Saltwater Challenge.”
The “Saltwater Challenge” was held in solidarity with Palestinian inmates hunger-striking in Israeli prisons.
On May 27, 2017, Hzaineh shared Marwan Barghouti’s photo on Facebook with the caption: “Your hunger strike defeated them #Hunger_strike_of_dignity.”.
The “Saltwater Challenge” was held in solidarity with Palestinian inmates hunger-striking in Israeli prisons.
The “Saltwater Challenge” was held in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prison inmates convicted of terrorism. The strike was initiated by Marwan Barghouti, who was serving five consecutive life sentences for his role in suicide bombings that killed five Israelis during the second intifada. Aarab Barghouti, the son of Marwan Barghouti, launched the "Saltwater Challenge."
On May 27, 2017, Hzaineh shared Marwan Barghouti’s photo on Facebook with the caption: “Your hunger strike defeated them #Hunger_strike_of_dignity.”.
Supporting Violent Protesters
On April 6, 2018, Hzaineh posted to Instagram: “الغضب الساطع آت. #غزة#فلسطين#مسيرة_العودة_الكبرى [“The shining anger is coming] #palestine #gaza#great_march_of_return.”
On March 30, 2018, some 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza approached Israel’s border to take part in “Land Day Protests” or the “March of Return.” The violent demonstrations were instigated by Hamas on the Israeli-Gaza border. Participants declared their intention to harm Jews across the border under the pretext of “peaceful resistance.”
March participants sent scores of kites bearing explosive devices across Israel’s border to burn Israeli crops and homes. Rioters also made numerous attempts to breach Israel’s border fence, which caused the Israeli Defense Forces to respond with live fire.
March participants sent scores of kites bearing explosive devices across Israel’s border to burn Israeli crops and homes. Rioters also made numerous attempts to breach Israel’s border fence, which caused the Israeli Defense Forces to respond with live fire.
Agitators also threw Molotov cocktails, firebombs, shot firearms and threw rocks under the cover of smoke from burning tires.
On May 14, 2018, Hzaineh shared to Facebook: “The young will Never forget Palestine. As Israeli occupation militias opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in Gaza, tens of thousands still kept gathering. Israel will never defeat the Palestinian people. #Nakba70 #GreatReturnMarch.”
On May 16, 2018, a Hamas senior official, Salah al-Bardawil, stated that 50 out of 62 protesters killed during the May 14 Gaza border protest were Hamas operatives. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) also claimed that three of its members were killed at the same protest.
Also on May 14, 2018, Hzaineh posted to Facebook a photoshopped pictureof U.S. President Trump’s Daughter, Ivanka Trump, unveiling the dedication plaque at the U.S Embassy to Israel’s new Jerusalem location.
The photo was doctored to portray Ivanka’s dress as spattered with blood and to replace the dedication plaque with a photo of one of the Palestinian rioters, purportedly shot that day at the Gaza border.
The photo was captioned: “While israel was carrying out a massacre against Palestinian protesters barricaded in Gaza, US officials celebrated occupation in Jerusalem.”
Demonizing Israel
On May 6, 2019, Hzaineh posted to Instagram: “... 71 years, and the world still applauds Israel for being the only democracy in the Middle East, while turning its back on a people facing apartheid, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and land theft. #nakba #palestine #endisraelioccupation #israelisanapartheidstate #freepalestine.”
On April 8, 2018, Hzaineh posted to Facebook: “يعني عادي يذبحو ناس ويهدمو بيوت ويسرقو أراضي ويبني حواجز ويعملو مجازر بس هاد الجندي الاسرائيلي عم بساعد هاي المرة توصل على بيتها بأمان. ليش لسا زعلانين؟ أموت أنا بأنسانية جيش الاحتلال. حرفيا [“So it’s normal to kill people and demolish homes and steal lands and build barriers and commit massacres but this Israeli soldier is helping this woman reach her home safely. Why are you still upset? I want to die in the humanity of the occupation army. literally].”
On March 28, 2018, Hzaineh posted to Facebook a photo of an Israeli soldier holding the arm of a small Palestinian child, with the comment: “Zionist occupation soldiers detaining a 3 years old little Palestinian child because he had a tool used to remove the core of zucchini vegetables, was sent by his mom to get it ..."
Hzaineh commented on the post:“Israeli soldiers detaining a 3 YEAR OLD. A f**king baby who's literally smaller than the weapon the soldiers are carrying. How more disgusting can this get? This is the world's ‘most moral’ military. Israel is nothing but a disgusting occupation, purely evil at the core, and I have no idea how the world still doesn't see it. #free_Palestine #security_threat #f**k_Israel.”
The post featured a photo and video of an Israeli soldier holding the arm of a small Palestinian child, and contained the comment: “Zionist occupation soldiers detaining a 3 years old little Palestinian child because he had a tool used to remove the core of zucchini vegetables, was sent by his mom to get it ..."
On October 20, 2017, Hzaineh shared to Facebook a video by anti-Israel activist Robert Martin from the Facebook page titled: “I acknowledge apartheid exists." In the video, Martin described [00:00:22]Israeli security policies as “complete racism” and portrayed [00:01:35] Israeli soldiers as “racist right to the heart.”
Hzaineh added: “محة عن العنصرية في الخليل."’ديمقراطية" على’ الطراز الاسرائيلي [A glimpse about racism in Hebron. “democracy” Israeli style].”
On August 16, 2017, Hzaineh shared a Mondoweiss article to Facebook, and wrote: “‘#Israel’s racist regime is based on no less supremacist, no less #racistideas and demands than America’s fascists espouse. It is time for consistency and to end the exception made for Zionist racial supremacy… ‘#ZionismIsWhiteSupremacy #BDS.’”
On March 21, 2017, Hzaineh posted a Change.org petition to Facebook, titled “Impose Financial and Military Sanctions on Israel for War Crimes.”
Hzaineh added: “I'm signing this because the Israeli occupation must end. Israel has been cleansing the Palestinian people, destroying their houses, stealing their culture, and committing all sorts of atrocious crimes and no one is stopping it. The apartheid is real and you only need a pair of eyes and an open mind to see it.”
Promoting Anti-Israel Agitators
On December 19, 2018, Hzaineh posted to Facebook: “Ahed Tamimi, 17, was arrested today for slapping an Israeli soldier raiding her house.” Hzaineh also wrote: “Ahed resisted the occupation ever since she was a child. today, it took the filthy Israeli forces 20 soldiers to arrest this girl. #Free_Ahed_Al_Tamimi.”
Ahed Tamimi has a long history of physically attacking Israeli soldiers. Tamimi is the daughter of Bassem Tamimi, who is known for exploiting young children as political props in staged confrontations with Israeli soldiers.
On August 30, 2016, Hzaineh posted to Facebook an AJ+ video of Dareen Tatour, with the video caption: “A Palestinian posted her poem on YouTube and ended up under house arrest.”
In October 2015, Tatour was placed under house arrest for incitement to violence and for support of a terrorist organization on social media. Tatour had supported the terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and posted to Facebook: “I am the next shahid [martyr].”
On May 30, 2016, Hzaineh posted to Facebook an AJ+ video of Janna “Jihad” Ayyad, and added: “I can see her making a lot of positive change already!”
Janna Jihad Ayyad Al-Tamimi, also known as Janna Jihad, is an anti-Israel youth activist. She is a relative of Palestinian propagandist Bassem Tamimi, who is notorious for exploiting young children as political props by manufacturing confrontations with Israeli soldiers who respond to the riots that Tamimi organizes.
On March 17, 2016 Hzaineh posted to Facebook: “Today marks the 15th anniversary of Rachel Corrie’s violent death. She does after being run over by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza.” Hzaineh also described Corrie as a “a freedom fighter.”
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM), founded in 2001, is a movement allegedly “committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles.”
However, the group has been accused of supporting terrorism and has encouraged its foreign volunteers to act “as human shields in cities, towns and refugee camps.” ISM has also encouraged activists to break curfew and disregard Israeli directives prohibiting access to closed military zones.
That policy resulted in the death of Rachel Corrie, who was accidentally killed while interfering with an Israeli military operation in 2003. A wrongful death suit brought by Corrie’s family was dismissed, because the judge ruled that Corrie unreasonably chose to put her own life in danger.
Boycotting Sabra Hummus
In March 2018, Swarthmore SJP published a petition calling for an end to the sale of Sabra products on campus. Sabra Hummus is partially owned by an Israeli company, the Strauss Group.The petition accused Sabra of supporting Israeli forces who allegedly commit “countless human rights violations,” including “arbitrary murders, assaults, incarcerations, evictions, and arrests of children.”
On March 4, 2018, Hzaineh shared Swarthmore SJP’s petition calling to “End the Sale of Sabra Products” on Facebook.
Hzaineh added: “If you're from the Swarthmore Community, please petition to end the sale of Sabra products.”
On April 4, 2018, Swarthmore SJP held a rally to support SJP members slated to meet with Swarthmore President Valerie Smith to push the Sabra boycott.
On April 11, 2018, Swarthmore SJP reportedly held another rally at Swarthmore to promote the boycott, during which they held a moment of silence for protesters who died in the Great March of Return.
On April 30, 2018, Hzaineh posted to Facebook: “I am” in response to SJP member Mohammed Bappe’s Facebook comment asking if students were: “angry by the college’s decision to not boycott Sabra products comment.”
That day, President Smith announced that Swarthmore would continue to sell Sabra products on campus and begin selling an alternative brand of hummus. In response, on May 2, 2018, Swarthmore SJP held a rally to protest Smith’s announcement.
SJP Activism
Hzaineh indicated on Facebook that she “went” to a September 8, 2016 event, titled: “Students for Peace and Justice in Palestine Interest Meeting.”
Hzaineh indicated on Facebook that she “went” to Swarthmore SJP’s September 13, 2018 “First Open Meeting.”
Swarthmore SJP - Expressing Support for Terrorists
On March 26, 2019, Swarthmore SJP posted on Facebook in honor of Women’s History Month, celebrating “the resistance and resilience” of Khalida Jarrar as “a Palestinian feminist.”Khalida Jarrar is a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terror organization. In 2017, Israel arrested Jarrar “on suspicion of involvement with terrorist activities.” In 2015, an Israeli military court sentenced Jarrar to 15 months in prison for calling to kidnap Israeli soldiers.
On March 24, 2019, Swarthmore SJP posted to Facebook celebrating Leila Khaled in honor of Women’s History Month.
Khaled, a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization, participated in the hijacking of TWA Flight 840 in 1969 and El Al Flight 219 in 1970.
On May 6, 2017, Swarthmore SPJP posted a video to Facebook of SPJP members taking part in the “Saltwater Challenge.”
The “Saltwater Challenge” was held in solidarity with over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners hunger-striking in Israeli prisons — most of whom were convicted for acts of terrorism.
The strike was initiated by Marwan Barghouti, who was serving five consecutive life sentences for his role in suicide bombings and shooting attacks during the second intifada. Barghouti led the Palestinian Authority (PA) terrorist Tanzim force and founded the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
Barghouti also financed the guitar-case bomb used in the Sbarro Cafe massacre, where 15 civilians were killed and 130 injured.
Swarthmore SJP - Promoting Anti-Israel Agitators
On March 28, 2019, Swarthmore SJP posted to Facebook celebrating Manal Tamimi in honor of Women’s History Month.Manal Tamimi has promoted anti-Semitic blood libels as well as terror support.
On September 21, 2018, Swarthmore SJP posted to Facebook promoting Dareen Tatour. In October 2015, Tatour was placed under house arrest for incitement to violence and for support of a terrorist organization on social media.
On March 19, 2018, Swarthmore SJP hosted anti-Israel activist David Sheen.
David Sheen, a Canadian-Israeli anti-Israel activist and filmmaker, works to portray Israel as an extremist racist state. To this end, Sheen has been accused of purposefully mistranslating Hebrew articles and advertisements to make Israelis appear racist.
Swarthmore SJP - Supporting Violent Protesters
On March 30, 2019, Swarthmore SJP held a “Vigil for Gaza's Great March of Return.” The event’s Facebook description called to “Honor the lives of those murdered by Israeli military forces” on the “1-year anniversary of the ongoing Great March of Return, a series of massive nonviolent demonstrations.”On March 30, 2018, some 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza approached Israel’s border to take part in “Land Day Protests” or the “March of Return.” The March of Return was organized and funded by Hamas as a campaign of violent protests along Israel’s border to spotlight the demand of Palestinians to “return” to Israel.
On May 17, 2018, Swarthmore SJP posted to Facebook: “for the past month and a half - and increasingly in the past couple of days - the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been massacring Palestinians in Gaza who are nonviolently protesting for their rights. Over 100 demonstrators have been killed and thousands injured, among them a number of children, most by trained snipers with explicit orders to kill.”
On May 16, 2018, Hamas senior official Salah al-Bardawil stated that 50 out of 62 Gaza border protesters killed on May 14 were in fact Hamas operatives. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) later claimed that three of its members were also killed at the May 14 protest.
Swarthmore SJP Divestment Campaign
On October 9, 2018, Swarthmore SJP held a rally to launch a BDS resolution that called on Swarthmore to divest from a number of companies doing business with Israel.On October 24, 2018, Swarthmore student newspaper “Voices” published a statement by Swarthmore SJP. The statement accused seven companies of being engaged in the “murder” of Palestinian civilians” and “the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.”
On December 3, 2018, Swarthmore SJP released its BDS campaign video, titled: “Why Divest from Apartheid?”
On December 12, 2018, Swarthmore SJP videotaped a rally where activists reportedly delivered a petition to President Smith, urging Swarthmore to “divest from Israeli apartheid.”
At the rally, Swarthmore SJP activist William Marchese also suggested [00:12:07] that Swarthmore was under “intense pressure from right-wing alumni who want to stand with apartheid.”
In February 2019, Swarthmore SJP proposed their BDS resolution to Swarthmore’s Student Government Organization (SGO). On February 10, 2019, the BDS resolution failed to pass.
On February 11, 2019, Swarthmore SJP activist Sidney Covitz co-launched a chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) at Swarthmore with the reported intention of supporting “SJP’s BDS campaign in any way.”
On February 24, 2019, the SGO Executive Board and Senate reportedly hosted an open meeting on the failed BDS resolution. At the open meeting, 40 SJP members and the newly-formed JVP chapter advocated for BDS.
On March 3, 2019, the SGO held another meeting inviting student groups to again discuss the BDS resolution. SGO’s President Gilbert Orbea motioned to hold a vote among members on whether to make the meeting closed, that succeeded, after which SGO held a secret vote. At the secret vote, the SGO voted in support of the divestment resolution.
On March 12, 2019, President Smith released a statement to Swarthmore’s website in which she declined to change Swarthmore’s investment policies in accordance with the BDS resolution.
SJP
SJP is a student organization engaged in anti-Israel activity on North American college and university campuses.
The first chapter of SJP was founded in 2001 at the University of California at Berkeley by Professor Hatem Bazian. Bazian has spread classic anti-Semitism, reportedly promoted religious anti-Semitism and defended the Hamas terror group. In 2004, Bazian called for “intifada” in America.
SJP organizes anti-Israel campaigns, including running annual Israel Apartheid Weeks, often in collaboration with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Muslim Students Association (MSA) campus chapters.
SJP has been a major force in pushing the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement on campuses. Chapters have initiated dozens of BDS resolutions in student governments, which have been proposed on or around Jewish holidays, a time when many Jewish students are off-campus.
SJP activists have reportedly physically assaulted, intimidated and harassed Jewish students, disrupted pro-Israel campus events and demonized pro-Israel campus organizations.
Chapters have often endorsed and campaigned for numerous terrorists and whitewashed terrorism.
BDS
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement was founded by Omar Barghouti in 2005 to challenge “international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.” BDS is an allegedly “Palestinian-led movement,” although leading BDS activists have admitted [00:01:01] this is not true.
One of the demands of BDS includes [point 3] what is generally known as the “right of return,” a demand discredited as a way to eliminate Israel. Barghouti said the “right of return” is a means to “end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.”
Barghouti has said that BDS “aims to turn Israel into a pariah state, as South Africa once was.”
In his activism, Barghouti has also said [00:05:55] regarding Israel: “Definitely, most definitely, we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No…rational Palestinian, not a sellout Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.”
The movement has been linked to numerous terrorist organizations and received a public endorsement from Hamas in 2017.
BDS initiatives include calling on institutions and individuals to divest from Israeli-affiliated companies, promoting academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, and organizing anti-Israel rallies, protests and campaigns.
The movement’s most notable achievement has been the infiltration of university campuses through lobbying for “BDS resolutions.” In these cases, student governments and student groups, backed by their own anti-Israel members and affiliates, have proposed resolutions on some form of boycott of, or divestment from, Israel and Israeli-affiliated entities.
Boycott resolutions, although non-binding, have been passed by student governments on numerous North American campuses.
BDS activity is often aggressive and disruptive. It has been noted that universities that pass BDS resolutions see a marked increase in anti-Semitic incidents on campus. On one campus, when the student government debated a BDS resolution, reports emerged of violent threats against those opposing it.
Social Media and Weblinks
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lailahzaineh/
AskFM: https://ask.fm/LailaFHzaineh
CouchSurfing:https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/laila-hzaineh
- Status:
- Student
- University:
- Swarthmore
- Organizations:
- BDS,
- SPJP (SJP)
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- Last Modified:
- 05/04/2026
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Infamous Quotes
“Israel has been cleansing the Palestinian people, destroying their houses, stealing their culture, and committing all sorts of atrocious crimes and no one is stopping it. The apartheid is real and you only need a pair of eyes and an open mind to see it.”
