Episode 21 focuses on attacks that took place at some of the Israeli Kibbutsim on October 7, 2023 and we hear from members of the Kfar Aza community, a community that suffered great loss on that day.  After filming this episode, two hostages taken from Kfar Aza were finally returned alive after more than 2 years in captivity, and the US government arrested an individual in the United States for his role in the Kfar Aza attacks.

In this podcast, Head of Terrorism Research Lara Burns has taken you through the history and evolution of Hamas in the US and abroad, all of which led up to the devastation and carnage that Hamas and its allies committed on October 7, 2023.  Burns traveled to various sites that were attacked that day and spoke with survivors and their relatives and documented their harrowing experiences.  Episodes 20-24 will feature factual accounts from October 7 and examine them in light of harmful, hateful narratives driven by US-based groups already discussed in this podcast.  Episode 20 begins at the site of the Nova Music Festival with the story of one brave individual's survival and loss.  Warning:  Some of the things you will hear and see will be very violent and disturbing.

Hamas published an amendment to its original charter in 2017, where it attempted to portray itself as moderate and open to peaceful solutions.  Hear from two experts who explain why Hamas published this amendment and whether it was a mere political ploy.  Then, see a recorded video of AMP leader Osama Abuirshaid who discussed on an Arab media outlet why Hamas needed to present a different agenda to the West than to its own followers.  Burns and Baker then move on to the signing of the Abraham Accords whose purpose was to promote peace and prosperity in the Middle East and normalize relations between Israel and other countries, and how CAIR condemned the Accords.

Episode 18, A Common Enemy, has been released in our podcast Intifada: Hamas in the US.   Burns and Baker delve into the uncommon alliance between Islamist groups like Hamas and leftist groups like PFLP, to face a common enemy- The West. In the late 2020s, Hamas announced its official alliance in Gaza with other terror groups like the PFLP in what they called a Joint Operations Room. Similarly, in the US, the pro-Hamas groups like AMP began collaborating with pro-PFLP groups to drive student activism on US campuses. 

Hear from Dr. Lorenzo Vidino about the history and evolution of Hamas' parent organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, and how its covert agenda involves the destruction of Western society.

In the wake of the HLF trial and convictions, news reporting indicated the FBI attempted to disengage from CAIR in any official capacity, with open source documents revealing they were considered an inappropriate partner for liaison. In this episode, you will learn about CAIR's reaction to these developments, as well as the growth of the AMP and its collaboration with the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) in the realm of student activism. Burns and Baker reflect back on the 1993 conspiratorial meeting wherein Nihad Awad and other attendees specifically discussed the need to ignite student activism in furtherance of their cause.

While Hamas took leaps forward in its progress in Gaza in the late 2000s, the group here suffered setbacks.  The HLF and five of its senior officers were convicted of providing support to Hamas.  Hear from one of the trial attorneys who explains how the case was proven to a jury, and how some groups like CAIR were identified as co-conspirators at the trial, and the Court affirmed that designation.  

The Second Intifada brought so much death in Israel with a number of American citizens dying as a result of senseless acts of terror.  You will hear from two retired FBI Special Agents who served years as FBI Legal Attaches in Tel Aviv, witnessing first hand the brutality of Hamas.  You will also gain a glimpse into the evolution of the US-based Hamas infrastructure when one of the original Hamas fronts ostensibly closed only to re-open with another name- an organization that is driving a large part of the hateful anti-Semitic, anti-West rhetoric in our country today.

In 2004, the FBI executed a search warrant on the home of Ismail Elbarasse.  There, agents located the US Muslim Brotherhood's archives.  Hear from an FBI Senior Executive who led the search of ElBarasse's residence.  He provides details about key documents that were discovered.  Learn about other significant developments during this time frame, including the federal indictments of the HLF and 7 of its officers for the provision of material support to Hamas.

In the early 2000s, the US Government continued its efforts to disrupt the US-based Hamas infrastructure.  Infocom and the Elashi brothers were indicted for various terrorism related charges and were tried in federal court.  Hear details about the prosecution and convictions from one of the government's prosecutors.  During the same period, another brutal attack occurred in Tel Aviv.  This time, Hamas targeted a seaside pub full of people enjoying live music, food, and drinks.

Search warrants executed on the HLF offices in 2001 revealed a large amount of evidence.  One of the documents seized was labeled "HLF Fatwa" and served as a religious decree, backed by infamous Muslim Brotherhood leader Yousef Al Qaradawi, authorizing the payment of Zakat (charity) to entities in the West like the HLF.  The Fatwa noted "Jihad with arms to fight the enemies" was the most important aspect of the work, but that giving money to organizations in the West who worked toward the overall goal, was likewise important. It authorized people to pay their Zakat (charity) to certain "Islamic societies in the west because they aspire to erase Kufr (non-believer) regimes and replace them with an Islamic State.   

On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by Al Qaeda when terrorists hijacked and flew commercial airliners full of innocent civilians into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  This event led to the United States' War on Terror.  Within months, one of the first Hamas front organizations in the United States, the Holy Land Foundation, was designated as an "Specially Designated Terrorist," its doors shuttered and its assets frozen.  However, leaders in the US-based Hamas infrastructure adapted quickly to the development and continued, undeterred in pursuing their mission.

In 2000, with the eruption of the Second Intifada, HAMAS and Palestinian Islamic Jihad's violence became unhinged. Still, there were also developments with the US-based Hamas infrastructure when the family of Hamas victim David Boim filed a civil lawsuit against the HLF and IAP, alleging they were liable for David's death. HLF leader Shukri Abu Baker urged HLF leader Mohamed El-Mezain to destroy material that would be discoverable in that case.  In 2001, the FBI conducted a surprise raid on a company related to the HLF and found thousands of secret documents.

Assassination Attempts, Prisoner Releases, and Expulsions: This Episode reveals that the late 1990s were a busy time for Hamas leadership abroad and also provides insight into how the CAIR Chairman of the Board was secretly a decision-maker for the HLF, Hamas's US-based charitable front.

Hamas terrorists shot and killed an American teenager at a bus stop in 1996 in a brutal, senseless act of murder.  As Israel and the Palestinian Authority struggled to maintain peace amidst the violence, the United States released Mousa Abu Marzook from custody and deported him to Jordan where he joined other Hamas leaders like Khalid Mishal. Hamas escalated its violence by dispatching a triple suicide bombing on a crowded pedestrian mall in Jerusalem where many young US citizens were socializing.

In 1994 and 1995, HAMAS's famous bomb-maker, Yahya Ayyash, known as The Engineer constructed powerful bombs that were used to wreak havoc and kill innocent civilians on buses and crowded streets, but his death in 1996 merely made him a revered martyr who was praised and celebrated.  Hamas continued its violent terror attacks, and an HLF leader proclaimed one of those terror attacks was "God's destiny."

In Episode 5, A Beautiful Operation, Burns and Baker continue to analyze the suicide bombings and attacks Hamas employed against Israel in 1995 in an attempt to derail the Oslo Accords.  They further delve into the reactions of some of the members of the US-based infrastructure, particularly leaders of the Holy Land Foundation, who referred to the double suicide bombing as a "beautiful operation."  Burns and Baker also focus on how, in 1995, the US government acknowledged that Hamas' violence was undermining efforts to achieve peace in the region, and the Clinton administration designated Hamas and its Political Bureau Chief Mousa Abu Marzook as Specially Designated Terrorists (SDTs).  

What’s Inside Episode 4: I Am HAMAS In this episode, Lara Burns and Jennifer Baker revisit a significant event from 1993: a secretive meeting in Philadelphia where key figures from the U.S.-based HAMAS network gathered. They strategized against the Oslo peace accords while continuing to support HAMAS operations under the radar. This meeting highlights a turning point in how HAMAS’s U.S. infrastructure operated covertly to sustain their mission, while HAMAS began a brutal campaign in Israel and the Palestinian territories wherein they began to employ suicide bombings and other vicious attacks, in a full-front effort to derail the potential for peace and to undermine the Palestinian Authority as the representative of the Palestinian people. The discussion sheds light on the roles of key organizations: Holy Land Foundation (HLF): Acting as the fundraising and charitable front. United Association for Studies and Research (UASR): Serving as the think tank and political strategy hub. Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP): Operating as the propaganda arm to spread the organization’s message. Through detailed analysis and supporting evidence, Burns and Baker reveal the connections and tactics employed to disguise these efforts. Discover how HAMAS’s U.S.-based infrastructure adapted and evolved during a critical period in history. This episode provides an unparalleled perspective into the covert strategies used to undermine peace processes and sustain global operations. From documented meetings to key players, the episode uncovers facts that challenge misleading narratives. Don’t miss this deep dive into a defining moment in the history of HAMAS and its influence. Watch the video podcast for visuals and documentation that enhance the story or listen to the audio-only version available on your preferred podcast platform.

Lara Burns and Jennifer Baker from George Washington University’s Program on Extremism delve into Hamas’s history and activities in the U.S. and abroad. The episode uncovers a key 1993 meeting to derail the Oslo Accords and the founding of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a political arm. The discussion reveals Hamas’s strategies for media manipulation, education for radicalization, and how they planned to deceive the American public while opposing Middle East peace efforts. This episode offers an illuminating exploration of subversive tactics and the intersection of charity and extremism.

Lara Burns and Jennifer Baker from George Washington University’s Program on Extremism delve into Hamas’s history and activities in the U.S. and abroad. The episode uncovers a key 1993 meeting to derail the Oslo Accords and the founding of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a political arm. The discussion reveals Hamas’s strategies for media manipulation, education for radicalization, and how they planned to deceive the American public while opposing Middle East peace efforts. This episode offers an illuminating exploration of subversive tactics and the intersection of charity and extremism.