On April 7, 2024, during Israel's war against Hamas, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) tweeted a video that included excerpts from Bazzi’s speech at the April 5, 2024, International Al-Quds Day rally in Dearborn, Michigan. “Al-Quds” is the Arabic term used for Jerusalem. MEMRI referred [00:00:02] to Bazzi as a “Michigan activist,” and in his speech, he called for the destruction of the United States and Israel.
The Islamic Republic of Iran initiated International Quds Day in 1979, as an annual protest against Israel’s existence. The protest has historically been a platform for anti-Semitism.
In the video excerpt, Bazzi said [00:00:01]: “We've been asked in the past: Why are our protests on the International Day of Quds…so anti-America? Why don't we just focus more on Israel and not talk so much about America? Gaza has shown the entire world why these protests are so anti-America, because it's the United States government that provides the funds for all of the atrocities that we just heard about [from a previous speaker].”
The excerpt then showed [00:00:30] footage of Bazi saying: “Imam Khomeini, who declared the International Day of Quds…would say to pour all of your chants and all of your shouts upon the head of America.”
Next, the video featured [00:00:43] rally participants interrupting Bazzi as they chanted in Arabic: “Death to America!” multiple times.
The excerpt continued [00:00:51] with Bazzi quoting Malcolm X: “‘We live in one of the rottenest countries that has ever existed on this earth.’”
In the next clip, Bazzi said [00:01:00]: “It's not Genocide Joe [U.S. president Joe Biden] that has to go. It's the entire system that has to go. Any system that would allow such atrocities and such devilry to happen, and would support it – such a system does not deserve to exist on God's earth!”
Bazzi’s excerpt concluded [00:01:17]: “When these fools ask us if Israel has the right to exist, the chant, ‘Death to Israel,’ has become the most logical chant shouted across the world today!”
Rally participants then chanted [00:01:27] in Arabic: “Death to Israel!” multiple times.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped 251 and wounded thousands. War crimes included various systematic sexual crimes like gang rape and genital mutilation. Men and women were violated, even after being murdered. Victims who survived that day, including hostages, endured forms of humiliation and torture.
Gazans working in the targeted Israeli villages provided intelligence to Hamas on which families to kill and torture, including long-time employers. Many Palestinian civilians joined in and celebrated the attacks. Hamas livestreamed their crimes on social media, including to victims’ accounts for families to see. To learn more, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
