Who Is Tara Tarawneh? Why Did The Human Rights Activist Call Hamas Attacks Glorious?

Publish date: 2024-07-09

The October 7 attack of the Israel-Hamas war is one of the most devastating moments this year, but there are still people who support these genocides by calling it judgment or glorious.

While there have been several people who became controversial after supporting the mass genocide and making antisemitic comments, a Pennsylvania student has now become the center of attention and controversy. So, who is Tara Tarawneh?

Tara Tarawneh is a human rights activist who is currently pursuing English Literature and Art at the University of Pennsylvania. She recently described the October 7 Hamas attack as glorious and joyful, further quoting that Hamas is “Freedom Fighters” at the Philly Palestine Coalition march.

Who Is Tara Tarawneh? 

Tara Tarawneh is a human rights activist and an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania. She graduated from King’s Academy in Jordan in 2020.

After graduating from King’s Academy, she decided to pursue English Literature and Art at the University of Pennsylvania. According to Gil Kerbs, the Chief Democratic Officer of Democratech Israel, Tarawneh has written many letters in support of Palestine in the past.

Furthermore, she is also a writer at Artmejo, a popular blog that shares and promotes art & culture in the Arab world. According to her author bio in Artmejo, Tarawneh has also worked for publications such as News Decoder and Taleed.

Why Did Tara Tarawneh Call Hamas Attacks Glorious? 

Tara Tarawaneh, a student at @Penn refers to Hamas terrorists as “freedom fighters” and calls the Oct 7 attack “glorious, joyful, and powerful.”

Tara thinks beheading babies, raping women, murdering 1,400 people including Americans, and burning people alive, is “joyful.”… pic.twitter.com/bGyxIe2a0F

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 2, 2023

Tara Tarawneh, a human rights activist, recently commented on the October 7 Hamas attack during the Philly Palestine Coalition march.

During the march’s livestream on Instagram, she referred to Hamas as “Freedom Fighters” and emphasized that she felt joyful and empowered. In her words,

“Do you guys remember the photo of the kids and men laughing and smiling as they sat on top of the Israeli military jeep captured by our freedom fighters? Do you remember that picture? How about the photos of the bulldozer breaking through the dirty border? Do you remember that picture? And the several other joyful and powerful images of which came from the glorious October 7.”

“I want you to picture those in your mind. I also want you all to remember how you felt when you saw those images and heard the news. I remember feeling so empowered and happy, so confident that victory was near so tangible.” 

From these words, we can guess that she is a devoted Palestine supporter, but quoting that she is happy by emphasizing the October 7 attack, which took the lives of women, children, and other innocents, is not something the world can take lightly.

I googled her; she is Jordanian and studying at Penn now. Almost certainly not a US citizen. BTW: the true Palestinian homeland is actually JORDAN, where most Palestinians live. DEPORT HER NOW for hate speech.

— Lola Montez (@LolaMontez2) November 2, 2023

Apparently, she has also written several letters in the past in support of Palestine and stated that Pennsylvanian University should change its behavior towards marginalized groups.

In the same post shared by Kerbs on LinkedIn, she also mentioned that festival objectors only promote a colonial narrative that posits indigenous people as inherently violent and dark savages, which comprehensively contradicts her current behavior, making her a hypocrite.

How Did Netizens React to Tarawneh’s Viral Video?

Following her demonstration, the video went viral as many people began reposting it across various social media platforms, which has garnered an insane amount of criticism.

While some comments are demanding that she should be expelled from the university or even deported for supporting the mass genocide, a few claim that some universities are allowing open hatred without taking preventive measures.

Here are some notable reactions from the X users, who did not hold back following Tarawneh’s comments on the October 7 attacks:

I’m old enough to remember when college students didn’t feel comfortable celebrating the slaughter of babies, raping of women, beheading of corpses, and burning of families alive…particularly on a stage in front of cameras. It’s devastating that this is happening in America.

— Mythinformed (@MythinformedMKE) November 3, 2023

If you are a terrorist sympathizer, then you are a TERRORIST!!!

— Patrick Hillary (@PEHillaryIII) November 2, 2023

Our education systems are failing these kids and our nation if this is the result of a 4 year college education.

— 4NinetyFour (@4NinetyFour) November 2, 2023

Tara Tarawaneh is great reflection on your university, @Penn . It’s no problem for her to celebrate baby murderers. How would she be treated if she criticized transsexual students? Probably expelled immediately.

— Don Brown, MD (@DonBrownIndy) November 2, 2023

Hamas Wannabe from the safety of her college campus.

— R T (@RDog861) November 2, 2023

From the audience, “Long live October 7th!” These demonstrators are glorifying terrorist atrocities against unarmed women and children as primary targets! Hear their words!! Hear their joy at this horrific event!!! These are not people we can live with in peace. “Glorious” Oct…

— CloudEye (@WeCFarther) November 3, 2023

Penn needs to expel her. Society has no place for bigotry and hate. Do the right thing penn. this lady needs to be backspace.

— Jereknow (@slolyfe) November 2, 2023

“I want you to picture those [images of October 7th] in your mind.”

It’s one thing to say “neutral” things about terrorists, and another completely to encourage visualization of terrorist acts.

— Charlie Robertstad (@clrobertstad) November 2, 2023

So, what do you think about Tara Tarawneh’s comments on Hamas? Do you believe that she should be held accountable for it?

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