Sana Daoud
Overview
Sana Daoud [Sana’a Abed Daoud] has spread incitement and anti-Semitism online. She has idolized and praised members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and expressed support for other terrorists.As of September 2018, Daoud was a national board member of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). As of March 2014, she was also a board member of the Chicago AMP chapter (AMP Chicago) and has been affiliated with AMP as early as 2011.
Daoud has shown support for Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and promoted the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
As of December 2018, Daoud’s Facebook page said she worked at Middle East Financial Services in the Chicago area.
Spreading Incitement
n November 7, 2015, Daoud shared a Youtube video on Facebook celebrating [00:03:39] and encouraging stabbing attacks on Israeli civilians [00:03:31] and soldiers.The video opened [00:00:04] with a graphic of a keffiyeh-masked figure raising a knife and bloodied arm, against a background photo of the Dome of The Rock on the Temple Mount. The video also featured [00:02:55] a scene with a group of Orthodox Jews visiting the Temple Mount, then cut to a hand picking up a long knife, followed by footage of a stabbing attack.
In October 2015, there was an upsurge in violence across Israel incited by Palestinian political and religious leaders. The wave of stabbings, known as the “Knife Intifada,” was characterized by young Palestinians throughout the country stabbing and attempting to stab Israeli civilians. The attacks were incited by Palestinian leaders propagating the libel that Israel intended to desecrate the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
On October 15, 2015, Daoud shared a Facebook video in support of the Knife Intifada.
The opening scene of the video showed [00:00:01] a man holding a knife while looking at the Al Aqsa mosque and standing in front of a sign showing an Orthodox Jew’s face with a line through it. The video also honored [00:01:10] several terrorists, including Fadi Aloon and Muhannad Halabi.
Fadi Aloon was shot by Israeli security forces after he stabbed a 15-year-old Israeli boy. Several hours before the attack, Aloon posted “Either martyrdom or victory” on his Facebook page.
On October 3, 2015, during Israel’s “Knife Intifada,” 19-year-old Mohanad Halabi murdered two Israeli rabbis in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem’s Old City. The wife and child of one of the victims were also injured. The day before the murder, Halabi, a member of the terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), had reportedly posted to his Facebook page: “The third Intifada is here"and "Wake up from your slumber and save al-Aqsa. Let the revolution erupt.”
Anti-Semitism
On October 15, 2015, Daoud shared a video on Facebook of an Arab boy in Jerusalem refusing to speak to a Jewish reporter. The caption of the video Daoud shared said: “In #occupied Jerusalem, even childhood is aware of its battle...A kid leaves an interview with a journalist after he knew he was an Israeli Jew.”On the same date, Daoud shared a video on Facebook of a young man harassing an older truck driver. The video had the caption: “شاب فلسطيني في القدس شوفو شو عمل بشفير شحن يهودي [look what a Palestinian Youth in Jerusalem did to a Jewish truck driver].”
On January 6, 2012, Daoud posted a poem by Ahmed Matar on Facebook that included the line: “إننا لسنا نرى مغتصب القدس .. يهوديًا دخيلاً [We do not see the rapist of Jerusalem, an alien Jew].”
Idolizing Hamas Terrorists
On October 18, 2011, Daoud wrote on Facebook in support of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, for releasing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 prisoners who Hamas claimed were responsible for killing 569 Israelis.On October 19, 2011, Daoud shared a Facebook video of supporters of Hamas terrorist Ahlam Tamimi greeting her after her release from Israeli prison. Daoud wrote in her post that Tamimi was a “للبطلة [hero].”
Ahlam Tamimi is reportedly a Hamas terrorist who masterminded the 2001 suicide bombing at Jerusalem’s Sbarro cafe, which murdered 15 people, including eight children, and wounded 130. Tamimi later boasted of her role in committing the bombing.
Ibrahim Hamed is a Hamas leader who was involved in multiple suicide bombings from 2001 through 2003 that killed 46 Israelis and injured over 400. He was sentenced to 54 life sentences in 2012.
On December 7, 2015, Daoud shared a Facebook video honoring deceased Hamas leaders Imad and Adel Awadallah. The brothers were reportedly involved in planning and participating in attacks that killed five Israelis and wounded more than 50 others
On February 7, 2018, Daoud wrote on Facebook in support of Hamas operative Ahmad Jarrar. In a separate post, she shared a Facebook video honoring Jarrar after he was killed by Israeli security forces.
Ahmad Jarrar, the son of a senior Hamas commander Nasser Jarrar, was reportedly the head operative behind the drive-by shooting murder of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, in January 2018.
In her Facebook post, Daoud wrote: “انت ااكبير وما سواك صغار
لولا الخيانة لم تصلك جموعهم [You are the big one and others besides are small. If it wasn’t for treason they wouldn’t have reached you …].
Praising PIJ Terrorists
On March 13, 2012, Daoud shared a Facebook post honoring PIJ terrorists Ahmad Hajjaj and Ubeid Gharabli, who were killed during an Israeli operation to stop PIJ rocket attacks on Israeli civilians.Daoud wrote in her post:
“( اخي انت لي رفقة من حنان ..
اخي انت لي نسمة من امان
وامال قلبي ومشعل دربي
وانت ضياء المدى والزمان
عرفت بوجهك معنى الحياة”
The post translated into English read: “My brother, to me you are a companion of mercy.. my brother you are to me a breeze of security, the hopes of my heart, and the igniter of my path, and the light of horizon and time.”
On February 26, 2012, Daoud shared a Facebook post honoring PIJ terrorist Hana Shalabi, who was detained by Israeli authorities for involvement in attacks planned by PIJ. The post Daoud shared said: “الحرية للاسيرة البطله هناء الشلبي [Freedom for the captive hero Hana Shalabi].”
On February 7, 2012, Daoud shared a link on Facebook in support of PIJ terrorist Khader Adnan. The link identified Adnan one of several “Islamic Jihad activists” then on hunger-strike in Ofer prison.
Khader Adnan was a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organization. A 2007 YouTube video showed Adnan praising and encouraging suicide bombings: "Who among you will carry the next explosive belt? Who among you will fire the next bullets? Who among you will have his body parts blown all over?” In May 2023, Adnan died in prison after refusing medical treatment during a hunger strike.
Supporting Terrorists
On March 4, 2018, Daoud shared a Facebook post honoring Italian-born Franco Fontana, a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) is known for organizing the 1974 Ma’alot Massacre, in which 28 Israeli civilians were killed, including children. DFLP terrorist Samer Issawi received a 26-year prison sentence in 2002 for manufacturing and distributing pipe bombs, and firing at Israeli civilian vehicles during the second intifada.
On March 17, 2017, Daoud posted a photo on Facebook of Basel Al Araj and wrote:
“ردّدي يا قدس لحناً عن شهيد في ربانا....و اكتبي تاريخ شهم راح كي يحمي حمانا. [Chant O Jerusalem a melody about a martyr in our midst.... and write the history of a brave who went away protecting our protected.]”
Basel Al Araj was killed in a shoot-out with Israeli troops during an arrest raid. He had been suspected of belonging to a terror cell planning to carry out attacks on Israeli targets. Two M-16 assault rifles and an improvised Carlo-style submachine gun were found inside his home.
On November 6, 2015, Daoud shared a Facebook post honoring Tharwat Al-Sharawi, who was shot as she tried to run down Israeli soldiers with her car.
On November 1, 2015, Daoud shared a Facebook video honoring Dania Irsheid, who was shot by an Israeli police officer after she attempted to stab him.
On October 17, 2015, Daoud shared a Facebook video in support of Ahmad 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. They critically wounded a 13-year-old boy and moderately wounded a 25-year-old man. The spree ended when police shot Hassan and a passing motorist hit Ahmed. Ahmed was taken to an Israeli hospital. He admitted to investigators: “I went there to stab Jews.” He was later tried and convicted on two counts of attempted murder.
On February 19, 2012, Daoud posted a Youtube video to Facebook that glorified [00:00:55] “shaheed [martrys]” who engage in terrorism against Israel.
AMP Activism
On December 16, 2017, Daoud attended an AMP-co-sponsored rally in Washington, D.C. to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.On December 7, 2017, Daoud attended an AMP-Chicago rally to protest the U.S. embassy in Israel moving to Jerusalem. Daoud live-streamed four Facebook videos from the rally, including one showing activists chanting [00:07:50] that Israel practices “apartheid” and chanting [00:01:43]: “Justice is our demand, no peace on stolen land!”
On July 18, 2017, Daoud shared an AMP post on Facebook urging followers to “Take action today to #SaveAlAqsa.”
“Dignity Strike” refers to a hunger strike initiated by Marwan Barghouti on April 16, 2017. More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners participated in the strike – most them also convicted for acts of terrorism. Barghouti headed the Palestinian Authority (PA) terrorist Tanzim force and founded the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. He was sentenced to five consecutive life terms by an Israeli civilian court for some of his crimes, including his role in the Sbarro Cafe bombing.
On October 18, 2015, Daoud shared an AMP Facebook post promoting a Chicago rally during the Knife Intifada. The post said: “#HandsOffAl-aqsa.”
On September 18, 2015, during the Knife Intifada, Daoud livestreamed a Facebook video of an AMP-Chicago rally. Protesters chanted: [00:00:22]: “Israel is a racist state!” and [00:00:48] “Hands of Al-Aqsa, now!!” Daoud wrote in her post: “Hands off alaqsa now Chanting in chicago's street.”
AMP
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) was founded by UC Berkeley Professor Hatem Bazian as a vehicle to generate mainstream support in the United States for the Palestinian national cause.
On its website, the organization lists Bazian as the chairman of its national board and describes itself as “a national education and grassroots-based organization, dedicated to educating the American public about Palestine and its rich cultural, historical and religious heritage.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has accused AMP of promoting “extreme anti-Israel views and has at times provided a platform for anti-Semitism under the guise of educating Americans” about Palestinians. The ADL further stated that AMP is directly involved in campus-based anti-Israel activity through Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
Prior to founding the AMP in 2006, Dr. Bazian created SJP together with fellow UC Berkeley Professor Snehal Shingavi in 2001. The close working relationship between AMP and SJP has been documented several times over the years by several organizations, including NGO Monitor and StandWithUs.
In addition to providing financial, public relations and legal assistance to SJP, AMP has also been accused of having connections to Hamas. The AMP national board includes former members of both the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP) and Holy Land Foundation (HLF), both of which were found liable for aiding and abetting Hamas. The IAP was founded by Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, a senior member of Hamas.
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.
