RSS
The Subtle War: Radical Ideologies in US Universities
A student protester parades a Palestinian flag outside the entrance to Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University, in New York, U.S., April 30, 2024. Photo: Mary Altaffer/Pool via REUTERS
In the complex landscape of US higher education, a critical issue that often goes unexamined is the influence of radical ideologies on the academic and social environments. American students and some faculty advocates display a concerning naivety towards the ideologies they endorse, frequently lacking a comprehensive understanding of radical Islamic terrorism, fanaticism, Khomeinism, Shiite terrorism, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the extensive networks of transnational terrorism. This lack of awareness fosters an environment ripe for the spread of these harmful ideologies, which have been deeply rooted in American universities for decades.
The roots of this ideological infiltration trace back to the 1960s and 1970s, when Marxist-Leninist and Islamic leftists mounted significant protests against the Shah of Iran, then America’s steadfast ally in the Middle East, among others. These events marked a critical and consequential shift in international relations and Iran’s internal policies, notably when President Jimmy Carter initially praised Khomeini.
The tumultuous events of 1979 transformed Iran from a nation celebrated for its 7,000-year-old civilization into one subjected to religious and political Islamic tyranny. This shift endangered not only Iran’s cultural heritage and populace, but also destabilized the Middle East and escalated threats to global security. A severe miscalculation in Washington was the assumption that radical Islam could serve as a strategic countermeasure against the Soviet Union — a naive belief that overlooked the existing collaborations between various Islamic terrorist groups and Soviet interests, including those led by figures like Yasser Arafat.
This underestimation allowed radical ideologies, especially Khomeinism, empowered by Western miscalculations, to proliferate globally. Ironically, the Khomeini regime began its international engagement with an act of aggression — hostage-taking — which sharply contradicted the supportive expectations of figures like Carter.
Within the United States, several academics and students actively propagated these ideologies, sowing seeds of discord and demonstrating a profound ignorance of the destructive nature of the doctrines they espoused.
Over the past four and a half decades, the repercussions of these ideologies have been severe. Wars, chaos, and political instability have increased, supplanting what were once opportunities for peace and cooperation. Educational institutions, which should be bastions of learning and enlightenment, have at times devolved into platforms for promoting and defending reactionary and destructive ideologies. This has not only compromised the academic integrity of these institutions but also endangered the future of many young Americans, who remain largely unaware of the true nature of the forces shaping their perceptions.
Today, the regime of Iran’s dictator, Ayatollah Khamenei, continues to exploit these ideological vulnerabilities. His regime’s brutality and suppression of dissent find a perverse reflection in the turmoil apparent in American universities. The recent protests in Iran, resulting in the deaths of 700 individuals and the severe injury or imprisonment of hundreds more, starkly demonstrate the regime’s ruthless tactics. Alarmingly, these actions resonate with certain American student groups that unwittingly champion the causes of such a tyrannical regime.
This phenomenon raises pressing questions: Do these students truly understand the forces they support? Are they aware of the consequences of their actions? The support for entities like Hamas and the display of Hezbollah flags not only contravenes US policy, which categorically rejects terrorism, but also threatens the very principles of American democracy.
The infiltration of radical ideology into US and European educational and cultural institutions is not just widespread, but deeply ingrained. These entities are active not only in universities but also permeate the media, lobbying groups, research centers, think tanks, and even religious institutions. This deep-seated engagement poses a severe risk to the democratic fabric of American society, a risk that is compounded by the widespread nature of this infiltration and the subtlety with which it operates.
Moreover, the role of international media in educating the public about these dangers is often compromised, as it falls prey to the same propaganda it should be critiquing.
Furthermore, the ideological battle between Iran and the West is not confined to military or physical confrontations; it is a deeper, more pervasive war that seeks to undermine social norms, cultural heritage, and historical narratives. The youth in America, influenced by these sinister forces, are often caught up in disturbances that threaten not only their future but also the stability and security of the nation they call home.
For the youth of America, and indeed to all who value democracy and freedom, it is imperative to scrutinize the lessons history offers. Iran, once a beacon of culture and prosperity, now lies in ruins — a stark testament to the destructive power of radical ideologies. The Iranian people endure perpetual turmoil, with their resources squandered on sustaining terrorist activities that bring them nothing but suffering and despair.
Reflecting on these developments, it is clear that the challenges we face are not just about combating overt acts of terrorism, but involve recognizing and countering the subtle, pervasive spread of an ideology that seeks to destroy from within. It is about standing firm against propaganda, recognizing the true nature of our enemies, and ensuring that the values of liberty and democracy are upheld. The struggle is daunting but essential for the preservation of our way of life and the protection of future generations.
In this critical moment, let us recall the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and strive to protect the principles they established. Observing the misuse of these freedoms to promote terrorism and radical ideologies, particularly in educational institutions like Princeton where Hezbollah flags have been seen, is deeply troubling. These actions betray the principles upon which our nation was founded and on which it must continue to stand.
Erfan Fard is a counterterrorism analyst and Middle East Studies researcher based in Washington, DC. Twitter@EQFARD.
The post The Subtle War: Radical Ideologies in US Universities first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
UN Data: Nearly 90 Percent of Gaza Aid ‘Intercepted’ Before Reaching Intended Recipients
Palestinians collect aid supplies from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, June 9, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
The vast majority of humanitarian aid entering Gaza is intercepted before reaching its intended civilian recipients, newly released data from the United Nations shows, fueling growing concerns among Israeli officials and international observers about systemic aid diversion by armed groups in the enclave.
According to figures tracking humanitarian assistance for Gaza from May 19 to Aug. 1 of this year, out of the 2,010 UN trucks (carrying 27,434 tons of aid) collected from any of the crossings along Gaza’s perimeter, only 260 trucks (4,111 tons) reached their intended destination. That equates to a staggering 87 percent of all trucks and 85 percent of all tonnage of aid being stolen and not getting into the hands of civilians at the intended destination.
The UN’s own data, posted on the website of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as part of the “UN2720 Monitoring & Tracking Dashboard,” reveals that almost all the aid — 1,753 trucks (23,353 tons) — has been “intercepted, either peacefully by hungry people or forcefully by armed actors” while being transported inside Gaza over the past few months.
No breakdown is provided of how much aid has been seized by armed groups versus civilians.
The data also shows that much of the UN aid offloaded at any of the crossings along Gaza’s perimeter has not been collected to enter the war-torn enclave during this period. Out of 40,012 tons of aid (2,134 trucks) being delivered to the crossings, just 27,434 tons (2010 trucks) have been picked up. It’s unclear what exactly led to this discrepancy, with issues such as poor internal coordination and security concerns potentially delaying aid shipments.
The UN2720 mechanism, created earlier this year, was intended to boost transparency by verifying and tracking aid shipments via QR codes at key checkpoints. The system monitors each pallet from offloading to delivery and flags any discrepancies in a centralized database.
Israel has facilitated the entry of thousands of aid trucks into Gaza, with Israeli officials condemning the UN and other international aid agencies for their alleged failure to distribute supplies, noting much of the humanitarian assistance has been stalled at border crossings or stolen by the ruling Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
On Sunday, Israel announced a halt in military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and new aid corridors as Arab and European countries began airdropping supplies into the enclave.
However, the UN and several Western governments have increased pressure on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, blaming the Jewish state for what they described as a hunger crisis and insufficient amounts of aid reaching civilians.
Israeli officials have said that claims of mass starvation in Gaza are false and being amplified by not only Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades, but also international humanitarian organizations and media organizations to manipulate global opinion.
RSS
Dutch Nurse Under Police Investigation for Alleged Threats Against Israeli Patients
Pro-Hamas demonstrators march in the Dutch city of Nijmegen. Photo: Reuters/Romy Arroyo Fernandez
A Muslim nurse in the Netherlands is under police investigation after allegedly threatening to administer lethal injections to Israeli patients — an incident that has sparked public outrage and intensified fears over rising antisemitism and patient safety in Europe’s health-care systems.
The comments were widely circulated by Israeli influencer Max Veifer, who also exposed a recent case in Australia where two nurses were suspended for two years over antisemitic threats and remarks.
In a video shared on social media, Veifer denounced Dutch-Muslim nurse Batisma Chayat Sa’id’s remarks as a serious violation of medical ethics.
“Someone like that should be prosecuted and barred from treating patients. Imagine your grandparents being cared for by someone so hateful,” the Israeli influencer said.
Zorgwekkende dreiging op Instagram: Nederlandse verpleegkundige is bereid om “zionisten een extra spuitje te geven” en bereid “zionisten te laten sterven binnen de gezondheidszorg.” pic.twitter.com/xTnXNi1wH5
— CIDI
(@CIDI_nieuws) July 29, 2025
The incident was sparked when an Israeli-Dutch woman living in the Netherlands commented on a social media post by far-right politician Geert Wilders, who cautioned about what he called the country’s looming radical Islamization by 2050.
A social media account belonging to the Muslim nurse also commented on the post, claiming it would happen by 2027, to which the Israeli woman responded, “Your dream is our nightmare. But people wake up from nightmares. Our Netherlands, our Israel.”
“Nothing belongs to you! My grandparents built the Netherlands. I was born and raised here, and I will do everything in my power to help this country get rid of the Zionist cancer,” the nurse further replied.
“You know what I’m doing with Zionists — giving an extra injection as a nurse specialist. Letting them go to heaven!” Sa’id continued.
When the Israeli woman threatened to report her, Sa’id replied: “Haha, try your best! I don’t have a boss — I’m the boss! All Zionists can die, inside healthcare and beyond, and I’m happy to help with that!”
Shortly after her posts gained widespread attention, Sa’id deleted all her social media accounts, insisting that her identity had been stolen and that she was not responsible for such comments.
On Wednesday, local police detained Sa’id for questioning, but she denied the allegations, asserting that someone had impersonated her online.
“It seems someone is pretending to be me, posting false and defamatory statements,” the nurse said. “I want to make it clear — I hold no hatred toward Jews or any people, race, religion, or identity.”
Even after announcing plans to file an identity theft complaint, she faces skepticism from authorities, who have assigned a digital forensics expert to scrutinize her online accounts.
Last year, an account under her name also posted threatening messages aimed at Jewish people, including “Your time will come — don’t spare anyone,” and another in which she described the burial of Israelis in Gaza as “a dream come true.”
Earlier this year, two Australian nurses — Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh — gained international attention after they were seen in an online video posing as doctors and making inflammatory statements during a night-shift conversation with Veifer.
The widely circulated footage, which sparked international outrage and condemnation, showed Abu Lebdeh declaring she would refuse to treat Israeli patients and instead kill them, while Nadir made a throat-slitting gesture and claimed he had already killed many.
Following the incident, New South Wales authorities in Australia suspended their nursing registrations and banned them from working as nurses nationwide.
They were also charged with federal offenses, including threatening violence against a group and using a carriage service to threaten, menace, and harass. If convicted, they face up to 22 years in prison.
RSS
French Authorities Halt Gaza Evacuations After Palestinian Student Expelled Over Viral Antisemitic Posts
Anti-Israel demonstration supporting the BDS movement, Paris France, June 8, 2024. Photo: Claire Serie / Hans Lucas via Reuters Connect
French authorities have halted evacuations from Gaza after a Palestinian student was expelled from the prestigious Sciences Po Lille and placed under investigation, following the viral circulation of hundreds of antisemitic posts praising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and calling for the murder of Jews.
The incident drew widespread condemnation and public outrage, prompting French ministers to demand answers and call for an investigation into how the Gazan student was allowed into the country in the first place.
On Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that all further evacuations from Gaza would be suspended pending the completion of the investigation into the student’s background.
After receiving a scholarship, 25-year-old Nour Atalla, a Palestinian from Gaza, arrived in the country in early July to begin her master’s degree in law and communications this fall at the Institute of Political Science in Lille, northern France.
Barrot confirmed that discussions are ongoing about the student’s possible return to Gaza, making clear that she must leave the country pending the investigation’s outcome.
“She has no place at Sciences Po, nor in France,” the top French diplomat said.
On Thursday, local authorities reported that a criminal investigation is underway into Atalla, with the public prosecutor in Lille confirming the case was opened for “apology of terrorism, apology of crimes against humanity using an online public communication service.”
Barrot admitted lapses in the screening process that allowed her entry and has mandated a comprehensive review of everyone evacuated from Gaza to France.
“The security checks, carried out by the French services and Israeli authorities, did not detect the antisemitic content,” the French diplomat said.
Atalla is one of 292 Gazans admitted to the country following a court ruling that opened the door for Gazans to seek refugee status based on their nationality.
She was offered a place at Sciences Po Lille University based on “academic excellence” and following a recommendation by the French consulate in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, the university announced it had revoked Atalla’s enrollment after hundreds of her past antisemitic and violent social media posts went viral, sparking widespread condemnation from political leaders and members of the local Jewish community.
In several of these posts, she glorified Hitler, praised Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel, called for the execution of Israeli hostages and the killing of Jews, and expressed support for terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
In one post, Atalla shared a video of Hitler giving a speech about Jews, writing, “Kill their young and their old. Show them no mercy … And kill them everywhere.”
In another post shared on Oct. 7, 2023, the day of the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, she wrote, “We must do everything we can to match the bloodshed — as much as possible.”