Arab Activist Slams US College Students for Supporting Hamas
In a scathing Instagram video, Rawan Osman, a prominent Arab peace activist who fled Syria during the unrest of 2011, criticized the “privileged” college students across the US who are blindly supporting the pro-Palestinian movement without understanding the implications.
Osman accused the students of propping up the real oppressors by championing Hamas, a terror group with ties to the Iranian regime. She emphasized that Hamas is a proxy for Iran, the same regime that forced her to flee her homeland as a teenager.
The peaceful demonstrations advocating for a “Free Palestine” took a violent turn when protesters at Columbia University smashed their way into the academic building, resulting in hundreds of arrests. Osman condemned the students for their lack of understanding and urged them to educate themselves before blindly supporting a cause.
Having transformed from a Hezbollah admirer to an “Arab Zionist,” Osman highlighted the importance of dispelling antisemitic stereotypes and understanding the complexities of the Middle East conflict. She warned the students that their actions were betraying the oppressed, including the Gazans.
The video, posted just days before the NYPD intervened at Columbia University and City College of New York, sparked a debate on the role of privilege in activism. Osman’s message resonated with many who praised her bravery and honesty in addressing the misconceptions surrounding the pro-Palestinian movement.