Jewish-American group says Kaddish for Hamas, PIJ fighters

Not for the first time, IfNotNow have been blasted for mourning the death of terrorists. During the 2014 Gaza war the group organized similar demonstrations.

MAY 31, 2021 15:52

N IFNOTNOW protest in Washington against the US Embassy opening in Jerusalem in 2018. (photo credit: LEAH MILLIS/REUTERS) — N IFNOTNOW protest in Washington against the US Embassy opening in Jerusalem in 2018.

(photo credit: LEAH MILLIS/REUTERS)

An American anti-Zionist organization recited the Mourner's Kaddish for terrorists killed in the recent Israel-Gaza military operation at a demonstration in Los Angeles last Thursday.

"IfNotNow," a self-styled "movement of Jews to end Israel’s occupation and transform the American Jewish community," held a demonstration in Los Angeles on May 28, where members of the organization displayed a banner with the names of Palestinian and Israeli victims of the 11-day conflict.

They also recited the Mourner's Kaddish, the Jewish prayer that is read for the death of a close person.

Joe Truzman, a research analyst for The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) pointed out on Twitter that the names of several PIJ and Hamas operatives were included in the list of people for whom IfNotNow recited Kaddish.

Among them were Basem Issa, a Gaza Brigade Commander; Sameh Mamlouk, commander of the Missile Unit Northern Brigade; and Abu al-Ata's brother, Mohammad al-Ata.

Interesting, they're mourning quite a few Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades militants. Basem Issa - Gaza Brigade Commander. Sameh Mamlouk - Commander of the Missile Unit Northern Brigade. Abu al-Ata's brother, Mohammad al-Ata. https://t.co/6Op8CoWJYZ
— Joe Truzman (@Jtruzmah) May 28, 2021

This is not the first time that IfNotNow has been criticized for apparently mourning the death of terrorists.

In 2014, during Operation Protective Edge the group organized similar demonstrations in over 10 locations across the United States, and in 2018 they repeated the event, reciting Kaddish for 62 Palestinians, 50 of whom were confirmed to be members of Hamas.

A similar event was held in London at the same time, although the group was not affiliated with IfNotNow.