{"id":2343783,"date":"2024-09-20T08:11:55","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T12:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-white-house-hosted-leader-of-hamas-linked-group-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-20T08:13:36","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T12:13:36","slug":"biden-white-house-hosted-leader-of-hamas-linked-group-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-white-house-hosted-leader-of-hamas-linked-group-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden White House hosted leader of Hamas-linked group &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbiden-white-house-hosted-leader-of-hamas-linked-group-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2343783&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article \u200ddiscusses\u200d a\u200d controversial \u200cmeeting\u2063 held by President Joe Biden&#8217;s National Security Council (NSC), during \u2064which they \u200dhosted\u200b Shadi Zaza, the \u200bCEO of\u200b Rahma Worldwide, an organization that has ties to Hamas. This meeting occurred on September 11 \u200cin Washington,\u2062 D.C., with several Syrian-American community leaders. Reports reveal that Zaza and Rahma have previously collaborated with Hamas on various aid\u2064 projects, including initiatives planned \u2064shortly before the\u200d October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas.<\/p>\n<p>An NSC spokesperson \u2063stated that they were unaware of Zaza&#8217;s connections to Hamas\u2064 and emphasized that the meeting was \u200cfocused on countering the Assad regime in Syria rather than issues \u2063related to\u200c Gaza. \u200dHowever, this connection has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/conservative-opposition-leader-candice-bergen-to-trudeau-do-you-regret-disrespecting-canadians\/\" title=\"Conservative Opposition Leader Candice Bergen to Trudeau: Do You Regret Disrespecting Canadians?\">prompted significant criticism<\/a> from Republican lawmakers \u2063who accuse \u2063the Biden administration of engaging with \u200bindividuals linked to terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n<p>Further examination of Rahma&#8217;s \u200cactivities\u200b indicated ongoing \u200cpartnerships with Hamas officials, including agreements signed for\u200c humanitarian projects. Rahma has denied any affiliation with terrorist groups, asserting that their mission is solely humanitarian. The article highlights the tension surrounding the Biden administration&#8217;s dealings with groups that may have connections to terrorism,\u2063 raising concerns about \u200dthe implications for U.S. national security and foreign policy.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Biden White House hosted leader of Hamas-linked group<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1757884\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash;<\/strong> President Joe Biden&rsquo;s White House <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/national-security-council\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>National Security Council<\/a> recently hosted the leader of a group with a track record of collaborating in Gaza with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hamas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Hamas<\/a> officials, the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> confirmed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The NSC held a meeting in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Washington, D.C.<\/a>, on Sept. 11 with Syrian-American community leaders, including Shadi Zaza, CEO of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Michigan<\/a>-based organization Rahma Worldwide, according to the NSC and Rahma. Unearthed social media posts and Arabic news sources show Zaza and his group have a history of meeting and partnering with Hamas officials on aid initiatives &mdash; including just days before the Palestinian terrorist faction&rsquo;s Oct. 7 attack on Israel in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have spoken at length about our condemnation of Hamas and the horrible atrocities they committed on Oct. 7,&rdquo; an NSC spokesperson said. <\/p>\n<p>Speaking to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, the spokesperson insisted the NSC was not aware of Zaza&rsquo;s ties to Hamas and that the meeting focused on countering Syria&rsquo;s Assad regime rather than on Gaza matters.<\/p>\n<p>Still, news of the meeting will likely further incense Republicans in Congress, who have <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenRickScott\/status\/1730721724105150479\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>faulted<\/a> the Biden-Harris administration for, at times, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenJoniErnst\/status\/1756095248793530689\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>platforming<\/a> anti-Israel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/2977348\/biden-white-house-dc-official-praised-antisemite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>activists<\/a> who have appeared to sympathize with Hamas and make derogatory comments about Jews. A Syrian-American community leader crafted the September guest list, which was approved by the Secret Service, a source familiar said.<\/p>\n<p>The Secret Service did not return a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>But the NSC staffers who allowed someone &ldquo;openly supporting a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmakers-consider-enacting-statute-to-increase-punishments-for-domestic-terrorism\/\" title=\"Lawmakers consider enacting statute to increase punishments for domestic terrorism\">foreign terrorist organization<\/a> like Hamas to enter the Eisenhower Executive Office Building are either grossly incompetent or fully support Hamas,&rdquo; according to a senior GOP Senate aide who works on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-snubs-gop-leaders-on-new-iran-diplomacy\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Snubs GOP Leaders on New Iran Diplomacy\">national security matters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In August 2024, Rahma Vice President Adib Choiki signed a joint cooperation agreement with Majed Abu Ramadan of Hamas&rsquo;s Health Ministry for a blood drive in Gaza, according to Palestinian media. It was hardly the first collaboration with Hamas officials.<\/p>\n<p>Just days before Hamas&rsquo;s deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attack, Zaza and other Rahma staffers were pictured in Gaza for another aid initiative for low-income families with officials from the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Development, according to images and Palestinian reports. The meetings came around the same time that the Biden-Harris administration&rsquo;s Department of Health and Human Services granted almost $175,000 to Rahma for a vaccine program, federal spending records <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usaspending.gov\/award\/ASST_NON_NH23IP922635_7523\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Kuwait&rsquo;s Islamic Heritage Revival Society, a terrorist group&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov\/Details.aspx?id=10923\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sanctioned<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/home.treasury.gov\/news\/press-releases\/hp1023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">by<\/a>&nbsp;the U.S. government for funding al Qaeda, helped back the October 2023 Rahma-tied initiative, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/severe-flooding-hits-indonesian-capital\/\" title=\"Severe flooding hits Indonesian capital\">social media posts show<\/a>. Attending one event in Gaza last October for the programming alongside Zaza was Hamas official Sami Barhoum.<\/p>\n<p>The ties between Rahma and Hamas run deeper, according to Sam Westrop, director of the Middle East Forum think tank&rsquo;s Islamist Watch project. Rahma &ldquo;appears to be a key component of a Hamas-aligned network in the United States,&rdquo; according to Westrop.<\/p>\n<p>Rahma insisted in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that it has &ldquo;no affiliation with any political groups or militant factions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our involvement in Gaza focuses exclusively on humanitarian support while we abide by international standards of aid work, working through recognized channels to ensure the delivery of essential services,&rdquo; a Rahma official said. &ldquo;We refute any suggestion of our support for terror-related activities. Our mission is solely to aid the vulnerable and displaced.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Dr. Zaza&rsquo;s visit to the [White House] is confidential,&rdquo; continued the official for Rahma, a nonprofit group <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/nonprofits\/organizations\/471304361\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>registered<\/a> with the IRS.<\/p>\n<p>Back in 2021, after signing an aid agreement with Hamas&rsquo;s Health Ministry, Rahma&rsquo;s CEO also met with senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad at the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development, according to a Facebook <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MOSD.Palestine\/posts\/pfbid02ornk6FC7ZcT98SzLZthojpJJdzTiPAzuMwkjRvhhAP4Ph7tnjEt95UmgiEFuvyBEl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>post<\/a> unearthed by Westrop.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo\/Manuel Balce Ceneta)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After the Oct. 7 attack, the Hamas official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.memri.org\/reports\/hamas-official-ghazi-hamad-we-will-repeat-october-7-attack-time-and-again-until-israel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>pledged<\/a> more terrorist attacks &ldquo;time and again until Israel is annihilated.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everything we do is justified,&rdquo; the Hamas official said in October of last year.<\/p>\n<p>In a 2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alwatanvoice.com\/arabic\/news\/2023\/10\/03\/1537212.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawFP2rBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcIXYiGZ9Q8aVUY5OtaXFzAhBpEvl6uYjAou2ccmcXPr8mT9BHdHv2F7Bw_aem_sySNlbhnE-XznWoeyjpoyw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>speech<\/a>, Zaza disclosed Rahma&rsquo;s work with Hamas&rsquo;s &ldquo;Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Education, and the General Administration of Zakat&rdquo; on university funding and other Gaza-based initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>The event where Zaza made those remarks, a luxury hotel in Gaza City, was <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.md\/LE0qB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>reported<\/a> in 2011 to be located &ldquo;next door&rdquo; to a Hamas military training camp. <\/p>\n<p>Rahma has also coordinated Palestinian aid efforts with Aid 48, a Turkish Hamas front group, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jns.org\/shin-bet-asked-to-delay-closure-of-terror-linked-raam-charities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according<\/a> to <em>Jewish News Syndicate<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That Rahma officials are meeting and partnering with senior Hamas figures in the same week they receive government funding is appalling,&rdquo; Westrop said. &ldquo;The federal government is subsidizing terror.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A source familiar said the September NSC meeting featured &ldquo;working level staffers,&rdquo; not White House leadership.<\/p>\n<p>The HHS did not return a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To Marc Greendorfer, an attorney at the Zachor Legal Institute, Rahma could still open itself up to legal problems even if its collaboration with Hamas officials has been for non-terrorism-related activity.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As such, they not only would be liable in criminal and civil litigation for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/actblue-facilitating-donations-to-terror-tied-charity-legal-group-says\/\" title=\"ActBlue Facilitating Donations to Terror-Tied Charity, Legal Group Says\">providing material support<\/a> to terror and aiding and abetting a foreign terror organization, they would be in violation of IRS 501(c)(3) rules and should have their tax-exempt status revoked,&rdquo; Greendorfer said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1757884\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1757884\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**Biden Administration Welcomes Leader of Hamas-Linked Organization**<\/p>\n<p>The Biden administration&#8217;s National Security Council (NSC) recently met with the head of an organization known for its collaboration with Hamas in Gaza, as reported by the Washington Examiner. On September 11, a meeting took place in Washington, D.C., involving Syrian-American community leaders, including Shadi Zaza, CEO of Rahma Worldwide based in Michigan. Evidence from social media and Arabic news outlets indicates that Zaza and his organization have previously partnered with Hamas officials on various aid projects\u2014some occurring just days before Hamas&#8217;s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.<\/p>\n<p>An NSC spokesperson stated that they had discussed their condemnation of Hamas and the atrocities committed during the October attack. The spokesperson claimed that they were unaware of Zaza\u2019s connections to Hamas and emphasized that the meeting was primarily focused on countering Syria\u2019s Assad regime rather than issues related to Gaza. However, this revelation is likely to provoke further criticism from Republican lawmakers who have accused the Biden administration of occasionally providing a platform for anti-Israel activists sympathetic to Hamas.<\/p>\n<p>A source familiar with the situation noted that a Syrian-American community leader organized the guest list for September&#8217;s meeting, which received approval from Secret Service agents; however, there has been no response from them regarding this matter. A senior GOP Senate aide criticized NSC staffers for allowing someone who openly supports a terrorist organization like Hamas into such a significant venue.<\/p>\n<p>In August 2024, Rahma\u2019s Vice President signed an agreement with Majed Abu Ramadan from Hamas\u2019s Health Ministry for a blood drive in Gaza\u2014a continuation of previous collaborations between Rahma and Hamas officials. Just prior to the October attack by Hamas, Zaza was photographed in Gaza working alongside officials from the Ministry of Social Development run by Hamas.<\/p>\n<p>This occurred around the same time when nearly $175,000 was granted to Rahma by HHS for a vaccine initiative. Additionally, support came from Kuwait\u2019s Islamic Heritage Revival Society\u2014a group sanctioned by U.S. authorities due to its funding ties with al-Qaeda\u2014further complicating matters surrounding Rahma&#8217;s activities.<\/p>\n<p>According to Sam Westrop from Middle East Forum&#8217;s Islamist Watch project, Rahma appears deeply integrated into a network aligned with Hamas within America. In response to these allegations about their affiliations and activities in Gaza being humanitarian-focused only\u2014Rahma maintains it operates strictly within international aid standards without any links to political or militant groups.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these claims made by Rahma representatives about their operations being solely humanitarian efforts aimed at assisting vulnerable populations while adhering strictly to recognized channels\u2014their past interactions raise concerns about potential legal implications regarding material support for terrorism under U.S law according Marc Greendorfer at Zachor Legal Institute<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":381,"featured_media":2343784,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Biden-Shadi-Zaza-White-House-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3620,3817,13022,32726,32127],"class_list":["post-2343783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-biden","tag-diplomacy","tag-hamas","tag-middle-east","tag-white-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Biden-Shadi-Zaza-White-House-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/381"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2343783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343783\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2343784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2343783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2343783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2343783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}