Palestinian Youth Movement

PYM was launched as the Palestinian Youth Network (PYN) by 35 Palestinian activists in 2006 at a gathering in Barcelona, Spain. In 2011, PYN changed its name to PYM at its second international general assembly held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Officially, the U.S. PYM was founded in January 2009. In the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings of the early 2010s, PYM adopted more revolutionary ideologies and tactics, such as protests and demonstrations. Until 2015, the U.S. branch of the organization had developed under the tutelage of the international PYM, which dissolved soon afterward.

According to its website, PYM is governed by a National Executive Board which consists of a General Coordinator, Vice General Coordinator, Community Development Coordinator, Internal Development Coordinator, and Project and Chapter Development Coordinator. The group does not publicize the names of its board members and officers.

Loubna Qutami
Loubna Qutami is the founder of PYM and its former national and international board member from 2011 to 2019. Qutami became PYM’s first International General Coordinator in 2011. As of May 2023, Qutami was an assistant professor in the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Hatem Mohtaseb
Hatem Mohtaseb has served [p. 21] as PYM’s General Director since 2019 and was reportedly the director of the local PYM branch in San Diego, California. Mohtaseb has glorified terrorists and expressed support for BDS.

Mohammed Nabulsi
Mohammed Nabulsi has been an activist with PYM since 2017. Nabulsi served [p. 19] as a PYM National Executive Board Member since 2017, the PYM Vice General Coordinator in 2021 and a member of PYM’s Houston chapter in 2022. Nabulsi has called for intifada violence, glorified Hamas and other terror groups, disrupted campus events and spread hatred of Israel.

Jennifer Mogannam
Jennifer Mogannam has encouraged Intifada violence, defended terrorism and spread anti-Israel propaganda. As of October 2018, Mogannam’s LinkedIn said she was an International Executive Board Member with PYM and an activist with the San Diego branch of PYM.

Omar Zahzah
Omar Zahzah was reportedly a “national board member” of PYM in 2018. Zahzah has celebrated “intifada” violence, expressed support for terrorists and demonized Zionism and Israel. Zahzah has also endorsed anti-Israel agitators and is a supporter of BDS.

Ramah Awad
Ramah Awad has served [p. 21] as a member of the PYM National Executive Board since 2019. She was previously a co-president of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Stanford (SJP Stanford) and a leader of Stanford Out of Occupied Palestine (SOOP).

Safwan Hamdi Ibrahim
Safwan Hamdi Ibrahim had served as “Program Coordinator: Al-Juthour Youth Collective” for PYM from June 2016 to August 2017. Ibrahim has demonized Israel as the president of SJP at the University of California, Los Angeles (SJP at UCLA) in October 2015. In the 2014-2015 academic year, Ibrahim was vice president of SJP at UCLA.

“Carry with you our peace for the occupied land. #Resistance #اطلق_نيرانك_لا_ترحم [Open fire and don’t have mercy].”
Hatem Mohtaseb, Twitter, Apr 8, 2019

“[We] must look to and support Palestinian resistance groups and civil organizations...such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad.”
Mohammed Nabulsi, warscapes.com, Aug 27, 2015

“Just as Palestinians, as young as 12 years old are out in the streets throwing rocks, we need here to be mobilizing in the same exact way. So I expect to see the youth organizing and mobilizing in support of the Palestinian cause.”
Mohammed Nabulsi, YouTube, Jul 3, 2016

“Long live Palestinian violent resistance .”
Dunia Ghanimah, Twitter, May 12, 2020

“All I want for Eid is for the Israeli regime to fall and burn .”
Dunia Ghanimah, Twitter, Sep 1, 2017

“Fatah also established the doctrine of the armed struggle, which is something a majority of Palestinians and pro-Palestinian activists live by. Liberating Palestine and dismantling the State of Israel through an armed struggle.”
Dunia Ghanimah, Facebook, Jan 4, 2020

“Israelis...Exist as settler colonial pieces of s**t that deserve to be shot.”
Samer Alhato, Twitter, Dec 29, 2018

“Israelis are not our ‘equals’ or ‘counterparts’…Free Palestine and death to everything Israel.”
Samer Alhato, Twitter, Nov 29, 2018

“Israel has no right to exist as a ‘nation’ for Jews.”
Samer Alhato, Twitter, Dec 13, 2018

“All Zionists are racist pigs, every single one.”
Samer Alhato, Twitter, Oct 27, 2018

“Learning Jujitsu has been so fun. Now I’m waiting for the unavoidable day a Nazi/Zionist approach me and I get to beat tf [the f**k] out of them .”
Samer Alhato, Twitter, Sep 24, 2018

“F**k Israel and every single supporter of Zionism. يا كلاب [O dogs] يا زبالة [O garbage].”
Moe Alqasem, canadadocs.org, Aug 25, 2019

“good evening may isr*el collapse within our lifetime inshallah [god willing].”

Elias Ayoub, Twitter, Jun 21, 2021

“if you say some sh*t like the state of isr*el has a right to exist…then you’re a racist piece of sh*t .

Elias Ayoub, Twitter, May 3, 2021

“good evening to everyone except that idf [Israel Defense Forces] soldier who died from a rock being thrown at him sucks to suck dude u shouldn’t have been on the land in the first place.”
Elias Ayoub, Twitter, May 12, 2020

“There better be a third #Intifada coming…If not, I’ll go start it myself. #Palestine.”
Amal Ali, Twitter, Nov 14, 2012

“The only Israeli food that they [Israelis] eat is the blood of the Palestinian people.”
Chance Zurub, Twitter, Dec 23, 2017

PYM’s anti-Israel activism spans three major areas:

• Political Education
• Direct Actions
• Collaboration with Anti-Israel Groups

Political Education

PYM runs an extensive political education program, including organizing “revolutionary reading groups,” film screenings and workshops. The group’s website provides a “Palestine Reading List” in its “Resources” section, which educates about the history of Palestinian resistance and glorifies convicted terrorists like Leila Khaled.

Anti-Israel activists use the term “resistance” to refer to violence and terror perpetrated against Israeli civilians and their allies. It is used to glorify and encourage anti-Israel and anti-Semitic violence. Anti-Israel activists chant slogans such as: “Resistance by any means necessary!” and “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!” in response to terror attacks.

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.

Direct Actions

PYM organizes direct actions and mobilizations of its members at anti-Israel protests, rallies and demonstrations across North America. These direct actions are often carried out in partnership with other anti-Israel groups such as “Hands Off Al Aqsa” mobilizations, sit-ins at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. and participation in the “No Tech for Apartheid” BDS campaign.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is the armed wing of Fatah, the main group in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The Brigade has been listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. State Department since March 2002 and was responsible for multiple suicide bombings [00:13:37] during the second intifada, in 2002-2004.

In October 2021, anti-Israel Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) partnered with MPower Change to launch a BDS campaign titled: “No Tech For Apartheid.” The campaign called on Google and Amazon executives to revoke a contract to provide Israel with cloud technology and to “end all ties with Israeli apartheid.” The campaign was endorsed by a coalition of over 50 North American anti-Israel organizations.

Collaboration with Anti-Israel Groups

PYM collaborates with other prominent anti-Israel groups in the U.S., such as Within Our Lifetime (WOL), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). Collaborations include conferences featuring anti-Israel agitators, direct actions on college campuses and joint training.

PYM describes itself as “an entirely youth-led and volunteer-driven organization,” which relies on “community support.” The group raised money through an online crowdfunding platform called Goodbricks and via checks payable to “WESPAC Foundation.”

WESPAC (Westchester People’s Action Coalition) Foundation supports the BDS movement by funding or acting as a fiscal sponsor for several anti-Israel groups, including PYM, SJP and Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel.

• PYM promotes incitement through its campaigns, direct actions and social media posts.
• PYM glorifies convicted terrorists and also campaigns for their release.
• PYM celebrates intifadas as heroic acts of Palestinian resistance and shows support for violence.
• PYM publicly supports the “Mapping Project,” which targets Zionists and Israel supporters.
• PYM spreads hatred of Israel on social media and through its political education programs.
• PYM promotes violent protests against Israel and calls on its members to join.

PYM promotes incitement through its campaigns, direct actions and social media posts.

On January 19, 2022, PYM tweeted: “OCCUPIERS OFF OUR LAND! HANDS OFF SHEIKH JARRAH! / We call on all principled organizations & comrades worldwide to mobilize actions in response to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. We must continue to defend Palestine against zionist aggression! #OngoingNakba.”

In May 2021, Palestinian violence erupted in anticipation of an Israeli High Court ruling on eviction proceedings concerning over 70 Palestinian tenants illegally residing in Jewish-owned properties in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

On June 29, 2021, PYM tweeted: “All eyes on Silwan! #SaveSilwan.”

Jewish owners who sought to reclaim their property rights to lands in Silwan, a Jerusalem neighborhood also known as Shiloach, have been frequently met with Palestinian violence. Many Jews and Palestinians possess conflicting deeds to the same properties, with Jews holding deeds that predate those held by Palestinians.

PYM glorifies convicted terrorists and also campaigns for their release.

On December 14, 2016, PYM tweeted: “Rasmea [Odeh] is a #Hero to all of us who dream of and fight for a liberated Palestine! #Justice4Rasmea #FreeRasmea…”

Odeh was a key military operative with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization. In 1969, she masterminded a PFLP supermarket bombing that killed two college students. She also attempted to bomb the British consulate in Jerusalem. Odeh later moved to the United States but was deported to Jordan in 2017 for immigration fraud.

On October 6, 2019, PYM tweeted: “Free Georges Abdallah, imprisoned by French imperialists for over 3 decades – a Lebanese revolutionary committed to struggle to liberate Lebanon and Palestine from imperialist presence (France, US, Israel).”

Georges Abdallah is a convicted Lebanese terrorist, reportedly a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and co-founder of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions (LARF). He murdered an American military attaché and an Israeli diplomat in 1982.

On July 8, 2021, PYM tweeted: “On this day, we observe the anniversary of the martyrdom of Palestinian revolutionary writer and critic, Ghassan Kanafani…”

On October 24, 2021, PYM tweeted: “PYM Toronto is launching its Revolutionary Reading Series - a virtual space to read and unpack significant Palestinian texts, starting with Leila Khaled’s ‘My People Shall Live: The Autobiography of a Revolutionary…’”

On November 3, 2022, PYM tweeted: “The Palestinian revolutionary Fatima Bernawi passed away today at the age of 83. She was the first Palestinian woman militant to be arrested by [Israeli] occupation forces. / Bernawi’s contributions to the struggle are innumerable, and she will forever be revered by the Palestinian nation.”

Fatima Bernawi [Fatima Mohammed Bernawi] was a terrorist with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). She was responsible for a 1967 attempted bombing of a crowded Jerusalem movie theater. Bernawi was sentenced to life in prison but was released after 10 years.

PYM celebrates intifadas as heroic acts of Palestinian resistance and shows support for violence.

Since the early 2000s, the term “intifada,” which translates from Arabic as “uprising” or “insurrection,” has carried the connotation of violence.

On April 15, 2023, PYM tweeted: “From May 26–28 PYM will teach a hybrid course ‘100 Years of Palestinian Popular Resistance’ at @PeoplesForumNYC. The sessions will focus on pre-1948 resistance, the First Intifada, & contemporary resistance in Palestine…”

The first intifada lasted from 1987 to 1991 and resulted in over 120 Israeli civilian casualties. Palestinian terrorists hijacked multiple buses and carried out shooting, stabbing, and bombing attacks against Israelis, including the bombing of the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem.

On September 28, 2021, PYM tweeted: “Long Live the Resistance! Long Live the Intifada! .”

On December 8, 2020, PYM tweeted: “We commemorate the First Intifada as a reminder of our people’s long history of struggle and resistance against the occupation. We honor our martyrs, whose memory lives on with us always. #FirstIntifada.”

On September 28, 2020, PYM tweeted: “Today marks 20 years since the beginning of the Second Intifada, also referred to as Al-Aqsa Intifada. Until return and liberation, the intifada continues .”

The second intifada took place from 2000 to 2005, where Palestinian terrorists carried out over 130 suicide bombings, murdering over 1,000 Israeli civilians and soldiers. Terrorists targeted city buses, shopping centers, dance clubs, and cafes. Palestinian leadership encouraged children to carry out “martyrdom” operations against Israel.

On July 13, 2018, PYM tweeted: “Share these images and sentiments WIDELY—one people, one struggle, long live the intifada until return and liberation!”

On November 28, 2015, PYM tweeted: “Transnational Mobilizations happening tomorrow! #RiseUpForPalestine #Palestine #Intifada.”

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.

PYM publicly supports the “Mapping Project,” which targets Zionists and Israel supporters.

On June 3, 2022, BDS Boston released the “Mapping Project,” an anonymous initiative that created an online, interactive map plotting the names and addresses of most pro-Israel and Jewish institutions in Massachusetts. The project’s stated goal is to “dismantle” both the local entities and the supposed “networks” colluding with them. The project was strongly denounced by public officials as antisemitic and condemned for its explicit targeting of Jewish organizations.

On June 8, 2022, PYM tweeted: “The Mapping Project Collective is comprised of organizers in Eastern Massachusetts that aim to ’reveal the local entities and networks that enact devastation, so we can dismantle them.’”

Also on June 8, 2022, PYM tweeted: “...We applaud our comrades at the Mapping Project Collective for their essential work researching & publicizing entities that are perpetuating policing, imperialism, displacement, & zionism…”

Zionism is the belief that Jews have the right to self-determination in their own national home, and the right to develop their national culture. Zionism is a core part of the identity of most Jews.

On June 23, 2022, PYM tweeted: “The Palestinian Youth Movement affirms our support for the Mapping Project out of Boston, and condemn attempts to censor this useful educational tool.”

PYM spreads hatred of Israel on social media and through its political education programs.

On April 26, 2023, PYM tweeted: “Today, 75 years since the start of the Nakba, PYM launches our first political poster newspaper themed ‘Nakba 75: Reclamation and Resistance…’”

The term “Nakba” is generally translated as “catastrophe” in Arabic, referring to the outcome of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It is a term used to delegitimize the creation of the State of Israel by drawing a comparison to the Holocaust, known in Hebrew as the Shoah, meaning “catastrophe.”

On November 18, 2021, PYM tweeted: “These tactics are also shared through ‘deadly exchange’ programs with US and Canadian police departments which contribute to police brutality in North America.”

In 2017, JVP launched the “Deadly Exchange” campaign that accused American Jewish organizations of promoting human rights abuses.

JVP also released a video that blamed [00:04:04] U.S.-based Jewish organizations for violence that occurs against Black and Brown communities, immigrants and activists in the U.S."

The video accused mainstream Jewish organizations in the United States of coordinating exchange programs between American and Israeli security personnel, to advance “worst practices” and “racist policies.”

The campaign page claimed that these “policies” included: “extrajudicial executions, shoot-to-kill policies, police murders, racial profiling, massive spying and surveillance, deportation and detention.”

On May 24, 2021, PYM tweeted: “As Palestinians in the diaspora, we say: / 1. Dismantle all systems of oppression and domination, from U.S. police to Israeli occupation forces…”

“Israeli Occupation Forces,” or “IOF,” is a derogatory name for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) used by anti-Israel activists to demonize Israel’s army.

On February 9, 2021, PYM tweeted: “The Alternative Palestinian Path Conference مؤتمر المَسار الفلسطيني البديل symbolizes our conviction in our pending triumph as Palestinians: the overthrow of Zionism, total land restoration, & our peoples’ return…”

On June 2, 2018, PYM tweeted: “Zionist colonizers deny us the right to return while recruiting foreigners to join their occupation forces & continue our genocide…”

The “right of return” is a Palestinian demand discredited as a means to eliminate Israel. International law mandates no absolute right of return and UN Resolution 194, which defined principles for “refugees wishing to return to their homes,” was unanimously rejected by Arab nations following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

PYM promotes violent protests against Israel and calls on its members to join.

On April 9, 2018, PYM tweeted: “Rise Up! Join our call for the #GreatMarchOfReturn with #youthwithoutbordersgaza - all out April 14th! Check out…for location near you!”

On March 30, 2018, about 30,000 Gazans approached Israel’s border fence to join in “Land Day Protests,” which were also called the “March of Return.” The march was organized and funded by Hamas as a campaign of violent protests to spotlight the “right of return,” a policy discredited as a means to eliminate Israel.

On October 19, 2018, PYM tweeted: “...#GreatMarchofReturn / #ResistanceUntilVictory.”

The violent riots continued until the end of 2018, accompanied by military-style attacks carried out by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other terror organizations. The attacks included gunfire, armed rioters penetrating Israeli territory, throwing IEDs and hand grenades and launching incendiary kites into Israel.

On June 30, 2020, PYM tweeted: “The Day of Rage is an international uproar unifying all of us against Israeli apartheid, occupation, and colonization of Palestine. We must say #NoToAnnexation and demand for the liberation of Palestine, right of return, and returning full human rights to the Palestinian People.”

“Days of Rage” were called for by the terror group Hamas. A joint statement by the Palestinian "national and Islamic forces" announced “a huge protest” and gathering “with the aim of bringing about general popular anger.”

Dunia Ghanimah

Dunia Ghanimah has promoted incitement, expressed support for terrorists and spread hatred of Zionists. She has also called for Israel’s destruction and promoted hatred of Israel. In 2020, Ghanimah co-authored a BDS resolution at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

Ghanimah’s father, Naji Ghanimah, is a Fatah activist who has promoted Hitler, spread anti-Semitism and expressed support for terrorists. As of November 2022, Ghanimah was reportedly a national organizer with PYM.

Samer Alhato

Samer Alhato has mocked the death of Jews, called for violence against Israelis and spread antisemitism. He has also glorified terrorists and celebrated violence against Israelis. Alhato has spread hatred of Zionists and Israelis, promoted intifada violence and spread hatred of Israel, America and Zionism.

In June 2022, Alhato was arrested in Chicago, Illinois, while protesting against an Israeli performer. In 2017, Alhato led a disruption at a pro-Israel presentation. In 2021, Alhato was reportedly an organizer with PYM.

Moe Alqasem

Moe Alqasem [Mohamed Alqasem] has led a campus protest that turned violent, called for the dissolution of Israel, glorified terrorists and promoted “intifada” violence. He has also spread incitement, demonized Israel and opposed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Alqasem has engaged in anti-Israel activism and is a supporter of the BDS movement.

As of February 2022, Alqasem was reportedly an “organizer” with the Toronto chapter of PYM.

Naye Idriss

Naye Idriss [Naay Idriss] has celebrated the death of Israelis, spread antisemitism, idolized terrorists and promoted hatred of Israelis and Zionists. She has also spread hatred of Israel and America, celebrated terrorism, called for Israel’s destruction and promoted incitement.

In 2022, Idriss represented PYM at a Within Our Lifetime (WOL) rally.

Elias Ayoub

Elias Ayoub has called for death to America and for the destruction of Israel, justified violence and expressed support for terrorists. He has also spread hatred of Zionists, as well as America, Israel and Canada on social media. Ayoub is a supporter of the BDS movement.

In 2019, Ayoub participated [00:00:03] in a violent protest. In May 2021, Ayoub was reportedly an organizer and spokesman for the PYM chapter in Montreal, Quebec.

Amal Ali

Amal Ali has called for intifada violence, defended the terror group Hamas and expressed support for terrorists. She has also spread hatred of Israel and Zionists. Ali is related to the Palestinian terrorist Nimer Jamal, whom she referred to as “the martyred.” In September 2017, Jamal murdered two Israeli security guards and a border policeman before he was shot dead.

In 2015, she served as a BDS community organizer with PYM in Southern California.

Chance Zurub

Chance Zurub [Chance Emad] has spread incitement, expressed support for terrorism and spread hatred of Israel on social media.

As of September 2020, Zurub was reportedly an organizer with PYM in Cleveland, Ohio.

Alex Kerry

Alex Kerry [Alex Salah] has expressed support for terrorists, demonized [00:37:54] Israel, whitewashed violent protests and promoted anti-Israel agitators.

On December 27, 2016, Kerry said on Facebook that he is the nephew of Hanan Ashrawi, an Executive Committee Member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Kerry was an organizer [00:36:52] with PYM in 2020.