Mona Ayesh
Mona Ayesh’s Leading the Pro-Hamas Encampment at the University of Toronto (UofT)
On May 4, 2024, Ayesh led [slide 4] a “Workers United for Palestine” contingent that marched to the UofT encampment. Ayesh marched while holding [00:00:29] a banner that read: “LONG LIVE LEGAL ARMED RESISTANCE TO OCCUPATION” with inverted red triangles on each side, indicating support for Hamas. She also clapped as anti-Israel activist Naveed Bahadur said: “Long live legal armed resistance to occupation.”
Among anti-Israel activists, the term “resistance” is a euphemism for terrorism and is used to glorify and encourage anti-Israel and anti-Semitic violence.
The inverted red triangle is a symbol showing support for Hamas and Palestinian terrorism. It was first used by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks to signify an Israeli target.
On May 2, 2024, Ayesh participated in a protest at the encampment where she chanted [00:01:42]: “All the Zionists are the terrorists, all the Zionists are racist…”
On May 5, 2024, Ayesh led a singing and dancing session at the encampment.
Ayesh also participated at the encampment on May 2, May 3 and May 6, 2024.
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Protesters harassed Jewish students, blocked Jews from campus facilities and shouted anti-Semitic slogans. They occupied campus grounds, in many cases illegally, caused property damage, violently took over buildings, celebrated terrorism and promoted the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Activists set up encampments to oppose Israel’s right to wage war against the Hamas terror group following October 7, 2023, when Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 people, including 32 American and 8 Canadian citizens. Hamas also kidnapped 252 people, including 11 Americans and the bodies of 2 murdered Canadians. As of May 26, 2024, 125 hostages remained in Hamas captivity.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped hundreds and wounded thousands. War crimes included mass rape and torture. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron.” For more information, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
On October 8, 2023, Ayesh reportedly wrote on Facebook in Arabic: “O Allah …Destroy the invading Zionists and… leave none of them.”
That same day, Ayesh reportedly wrote on Facebook: “...Palestinians in the occupied land have the full right to defend them selves [sic] to free Palestine, exactly like Ukraine! Resistance against occupation is not terrorism! #freepalestine #gazaunderattack.”
On October 9, 2023, Ayesh participated [00:02:26] in a rally in Toronto celebrating Hamas’ terror attacks of October 7.
On February 4, 2024, Ayesh participated [slide 5] in an anti-Israel protest in Toronto and posed for a photo with a pro-Hamas inverted red triangle on her sleeve.
Anti-Israel activists compare Israel to Nazi Germany to insinuate that the plight of Palestinians has eclipsed Jewish suffering during the Holocaust.
#ceasefirenow.”
On February 7, 2024, Ayesh was arrested after she ignored police instructions to leave an overpass where she was participating in an anti-Israel protest.
On July 8, 2024, Ayesh posted on Instagram that the charges by the “racist. stupid, Zionists police” had been dropped.
On May 5, 2024, Ayesh led a singing and dancing session at the encampment.
Ayesh also participated at the encampment on May 2, May 3 and May 6, 2024.
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Pro-Hamas Encampment at the University of Toronto
On May 2, 2024, activists from the UofT Occupy for Palestine (Occupy UofT) group “stormed down” [00:00:24] the fencing around UofT’s Kings College Circle and set up a pro-Hamas encampment, which they called the “People’s Circle for Palestine.”That day, Occupy UofT called on “community members to…help us defend our encampment” at an emergency rally in the evening. Protesters chanted [00:02:59] for “intifada” and celebrated “resistance” [00:02:45]. Both terms are calls for terrorism. The activists also chanted [00:01:28; 00:02:21] for Israel’s destruction multiple times.
One speaker, Nabil Jalbout, said [00:09:02]: “...we are not fighting for peace, we are fighting for liberation, because ‘peace’ is a white man's word.” Another speaker, Ahmad Jarrar Hajahmad, claimed [00:05:52]: “All these Israeli and Zionist entities fill all these politicians with money in their pockets…we already know who runs this system…”
Signs displayed at the encampment said: “LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA” and “LIBERATION FOR ALL REQUIRES RESISTANCE FROM ALL.”
On May 4, 2024, anti-Israel protesters at the encampment assaulted a Jewish man, punching him in the stomach as they forcibly took his Israeli flag. The attackers told the man [00:01:02]: “God bless the armed resistance,” and: “Go back to Europe!” They also reportedly called him “a “dirty Jew.”
Protesters “occupied” [00:00:17] the area from May to July 2024, despite UofT’s warning they were trespassing. The group said they would not leave until UofT divested from companies that “sustain Israeli apartheid, occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine” and terminated partnerships with Israeli academic institutions.
Following the October 7, 2023 massacre of nearly 1,200 Israelis, the inverted red triangle -
- became a Hamas symbol. This symbol appeared on large signs at the encampment multiple times. Erin Mackey, one of the primary organizers, is openly pro-Hamas, having used the symbol in her activism. In addition, pro-Hamas marches that began in other parts of the city concluded at the encampment.
One speaker, Nabil Jalbout, said [00:09:02]: “...we are not fighting for peace, we are fighting for liberation, because ‘peace’ is a white man's word.” Another speaker, Ahmad Jarrar Hajahmad, claimed [00:05:52]: “All these Israeli and Zionist entities fill all these politicians with money in their pockets…we already know who runs this system…”
Signs displayed at the encampment said: “LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA” and “LIBERATION FOR ALL REQUIRES RESISTANCE FROM ALL.”
On May 4, 2024, anti-Israel protesters at the encampment assaulted a Jewish man, punching him in the stomach as they forcibly took his Israeli flag. The attackers told the man [00:01:02]: “God bless the armed resistance,” and: “Go back to Europe!” They also reportedly called him “a “dirty Jew.”
Protesters “occupied” [00:00:17] the area from May to July 2024, despite UofT’s warning they were trespassing. The group said they would not leave until UofT divested from companies that “sustain Israeli apartheid, occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine” and terminated partnerships with Israeli academic institutions.
Following the October 7, 2023 massacre of nearly 1,200 Israelis, the inverted red triangle -
- became a Hamas symbol. This symbol appeared on large signs at the encampment multiple times. Erin Mackey, one of the primary organizers, is openly pro-Hamas, having used the symbol in her activism. In addition, pro-Hamas marches that began in other parts of the city concluded at the encampment.On July 3, 2024, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued an injunction at the request of UofT’s Governing Council, requiring students to clear the encampment. Occupy UofT dismantled the encampment and wrote [slides 5-6]: “We are just getting started…come fall, every incoming student will hear our message loud and clear…Whatever institution you have access to and influence over - you need to take this campaign there!” The statement concluded: “Long live the intifada.”
Background on Pro-Hamas Encampments
The encampment was one of over 140 pro-Hamas and anti-Israel college encampments set up in North America, and over 20 more globally, in the spring of 2024. The first began on April 17, 2024, at Columbia University. The encampments were unofficially known as the “student intifada,” borrowing a term associated with terrorist violence.Protesters harassed Jewish students, blocked Jews from campus facilities and shouted anti-Semitic slogans. They occupied campus grounds, in many cases illegally, caused property damage, violently took over buildings, celebrated terrorism and promoted the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Activists set up encampments to oppose Israel’s right to wage war against the Hamas terror group following October 7, 2023, when Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 people, including 32 American and 8 Canadian citizens. Hamas also kidnapped 252 people, including 11 Americans and the bodies of 2 murdered Canadians. As of May 26, 2024, 125 hostages remained in Hamas captivity.
For more information on the October 7, 2023 terror attacks, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
Mona Ayesh’s Support for Hamas Terrorists
On October 7, 2023, Ayesh reportedly posted on Facebook an event that evening in Mississauga with a graphic with Palestinian flags and text that said: “BRING YOUR FLAGS / BRING YOUR SPEAKERS / BRING YOUR SWEETS / BRING YOUR ENERGY WE ARE / CELEBRATING.”On October 7, 2023, Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped hundreds and wounded thousands. War crimes included mass rape and torture. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron.” For more information, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
On October 8, 2023, Ayesh reportedly wrote on Facebook in Arabic: “O Allah …Destroy the invading Zionists and… leave none of them.”
That same day, Ayesh reportedly wrote on Facebook: “...Palestinians in the occupied land have the full right to defend them selves [sic] to free Palestine, exactly like Ukraine! Resistance against occupation is not terrorism! #freepalestine #gazaunderattack.”
On October 9, 2023, Ayesh participated [00:02:26] in a rally in Toronto celebrating Hamas’ terror attacks of October 7.
On February 4, 2024, Ayesh participated [slide 5] in an anti-Israel protest in Toronto and posed for a photo with a pro-Hamas inverted red triangle on her sleeve.
Mona Ayesh’s Anti-Semitism
On May 27, 2024, Ayesh posted on Instagram: “#stoprafahholocaust” about an area of Gaza where the Israeli army was carrying out operations against Hamas.The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) highlights as one possible contemporary example of anti-Semitism: “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.” The U.S. State Department adopted the IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism in 2016. Over 40 countries have adopted the definition as well.
Anti-Israel activists compare Israel to Nazi Germany to insinuate that the plight of Palestinians has eclipsed Jewish suffering during the Holocaust.
Mona Ayesh’s Arrest
On December 31, 2023, Ayesh posted on Instagram: “Toronto Police blocked all ways and roads that lead to the bridge at the Zionist area today . We will never quit going to protest anywhere we want and practice our rights of protesting peacefully including Zionists areas! #freepalestine #ceasefirenow.”On February 7, 2024, Ayesh was arrested after she ignored police instructions to leave an overpass where she was participating in an anti-Israel protest.
On July 8, 2024, Ayesh posted on Instagram that the charges by the “racist. stupid, Zionists police” had been dropped.
Mona Ayesh’s Hatred of Canada and Police
On August 31, 2024, Ayesh posted a Facebook Reel video that featured her arguing with two Canadian police officers. Ayesh captioned the reel: “The myth of Canadian democracy and freedom!...”In the video, Ayesh pointed [00:00:13] at one of the officers and said [00:00:14]: “Actually I remember you, you’re always there for the Palestinian protesters to arrest them and you are biased and racist.”
Later in the video [00:00:48] as the same officer rode away [00:00:49] on his bicycle, she yelled [00:00:50] at him: “Stupid!”
Mona Ayesh’s Anti-Israel Activism, Work and Education
Ayesh is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.Ayesh was an activist with the pro-terror group Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) in Toronto in 2024.
As of June 2024, Ayesh worked as a dabke dance instructor. In 2021, she served as head of Palestine House Toronto’s cultural committee and served on its board of directors in 2020.
As of August 2024, Ayesh’s Facebook page said she had a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory technology (BS-MLT/MLS) from Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) in Jordan.
As of August 2024, Ayesh’s Facebook page said she lived in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Social Media and Weblinks
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093389756905Facebook 2:https://www.facebook.com/mona.ayesh.3
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mona_ayesh_dabke/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@munaayesh2137
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@munaayesh1
Videos
6 videos
Photos & Screenshots
39 images
Infamous Quotes
“O Allah…Destroy the Zionist occupiers and…leave none of them.”
“…We will never quit going to protest anywhere we want and practice our rights of protesting peacefully including Zionists areas! #freepalestine #ceasefirenow”
#ceasefirenow”