WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans launched an investigation into American Muslims for American Muslims (AMPs) for Palestine on Thursday, and an investigation into funding for anti-Israeli protest groups on US university campuses, including Columbia University.
Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (Help) Committee, announced the investigation at the top of a hearing entitled “Anti-Semitic Disturbance on Campus,” and nominated nine individuals with links to US-designated foreign terrorist groups that helped protests on campus.
“Today, as chairman of the Health Committee, I have begun a survey of American Muslims for Palestine, demanding answers about their activities on university campuses,” Cassidy said.
“The group's leaders had connections with Hamas and helped create the group's students for Palestine justice,” he added. “I also requested information from the Department of Justice and several universities in these groups.
“We have to continue building on these efforts. As we saw in Columbia last month, Pro Hama activists continue to wreak havoc on campus,” he said.
“Instead of standing up for Jewish students, too many university officials either failed to accommodate them or refused to even condemn even these horrible events.”
In a letter to AMP Chairman Hatem Bazian, Cassidy listed the group's troubling relationships, as well as some of Hamas and Bazian's companions. Edited Research Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President of the Foundation for Democracy.
These links include:
- Jamal said: The high-profile speakers of AMP fundraisers have brought donations to the Holy Land Foundation (HLF), a charity that the Fed closed after focusing around $12.4 million on Hamas.
- Kifah Mustafa: Another AMP speaker and fundraiser from HLF
- Salah Sarsour: One of five members of the AMP National Committee, who is said to have funded the HLF and Hamas military leader Adel Awadala, who was killed by Israeli forces in 1998
- Mohammed El-Mezain: 2023 speaker and former HLF leader at AMP sponsored event
- Rafeeq Jaber: Seeded with funding from Mousa Abu Marzook, AJP Tax Accountant, former president of the Palestinian Association (IAP) of the Islamic Association and Hamas leader
- Abdelbaset Hamayel: Former leader of IAP and former leader of Taxempt Group Kindhearts, closed due to connections with HLF and his assets were frozen by the Ministry of Finance.
- Sufian Nabhan: Former National Board Member
- Osama Abuirshaid: Executive Director of AMP interviewed Marzook for IAP
Cassidy also sent more letters to Columbia, Bernard, George Washington University, UCLA Attorney General Pam Bondy, FBI Director Kash Patel, and university leaders.
“Activities that threaten the safety of others are not constitutionally protected freedom of speech, but rather actions.
Violating campus rules should not be tolerated,” he warned, highlighting the same relationship between the AMP and SJP.
“Reports of individuals with connections with terrorist groups and affiliates who are involved with students on university campuses are also the source of the alarm.”
By April 9, Louisiana Republicans requested further records from each institution of higher education.
The investigation comes shortly after a lawsuit filed by the hostage families held by Hamas, who claimed that anti-Israel groups like the SJP had “pre-knowledge” of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack.
According to the new lawsuit, the activist group declared in an Instagram post hours before the fatal attack that “we're back.”
An AMP representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
