Rep. Ilhan Omar’s campaign just dropped over $1,500 on a nonprofit with a mission that raises more than a few eyebrows.
Through Federal Election Commission filings, it’s come to light that Omar’s campaign, Ilhan for Congress, paid $1,559.25 in September to the Palestine House of Freedom, a Washington, D.C.-based group, for what was vaguely described as “event tickets.”
The specifics of the event remain a mystery, leaving many to wonder what exactly warranted such a contribution from a sitting congresswoman’s campaign coffers.
Located near the U.S. Capitol, the Palestine House of Freedom—also known as Dar Alhurriya— isn’t shy about its goals, proudly declaring a mission to dismantle what it calls an “apartheid state” in Israel.
Their website pushes for a “free, democratic state from the river to the sea,” a phrase often criticized for implying the erasure of Israel, and outlines plans for an aggressive outreach to lawmakers and media to promote this vision.
While advocating for equal rights sounds noble on paper, the rhetoric here feels like a one-sided jab at a complex conflict—hardly the balanced dialogue we should expect near the heart of American governance.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Palestine House of Freedom hosted a fundraiser in June titled “From Birzeit and Beyond,” with proceeds directly benefiting Birzeit University in Palestine.
This isn’t just any academic institution—Birzeit has been flagged for deep ties to Hamas, with its student council elections consistently favoring the pro-Hamas Al-Wafaa bloc since the 1990s, including wins in 2022 and 2023.
Reports from outlets like The Washington Reporter and Memri TV paint a grim picture, noting campus events where students have paraded with mock suicide vests and rockets, earning Birzeit the chilling nickname “Terrorist University.”
The Hamas connection isn’t mere speculation—after the 2023 student council win, a high-ranking Hamas operative boasted to the Middle East Monitor about the victory as an “extension” of their movement.
“The second message is that the bloc has proven its ability to adapt to changes, overcome complexities, and fill the void created by arrests, martyrdom, or deportation,” said Ismail Haniyeh, former head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, to the Middle East Monitor.
“Hamas is unbreakable in its homeland and that it will confront the occupier, oppression and terrorism,” Haniyeh added, a statement that hardly screams academic neutrality or peaceful discourse.
Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York and Tim Walberg of Michigan have raised alarms, penning a letter on September 29 to Harvard University over its past partnership with Birzeit, calling it a school that “explicitly endorses” a terrorist organization.
Harvard, to its credit, announced this spring it wouldn’t renew ties with Birzeit pending a full internal review, as reported by The Harvard Crimson, but the association still stings for those concerned about terror-linked influences in academia.
Meanwhile, Omar’s own history—marked by past controversial remarks about Israel and 9/11 for which she’s apologized—only amplifies the scrutiny on this payment, especially when her office and campaign have stayed silent despite outreach from Fox News Digital.
