An Arabic professor at Portland State University has been put on leave after allegedly claiming to be part of Hamas during an interview that was caught on camera in Beaverton, Oregon.

The professor — Dr. Yasmeen S. Hanoosh — who once served as a translation fellow for the National Endowment for the Arts, was caught on camera saying “I am Hamas. We are all Hamas” as she pointed to people around her.

Remember that Hamas is considered to be a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union, and it is responsible for the October 7th attack on Israel. Thousands of Gazans are currently rioting against Hamas, chanting for them to “Get Out” because of their oppressive rule.

We reached out to Hanoosh to ask about her connection to Hamas or how she knew other Beaverton protesters were also part of Hamas, as she claimed. She had multiple opportunities to clarify if meant it metaphorically as opposed to literally, but she did not reply.

This isn’t the first time she’s come under fire.

She also defended the death-chant “From The River To The Sea”, arguing that it has “too many layers of meaning” to be condemned.

While Hanoosh has been put on leave pending an investigation, netizens have been calling for Portland State to take this seriously and terminate her, as opposed to “sweeping it under the rug” as one put it.

Putting Hanoosh on leave isn’t enough, says Eyal Bitton, host of the Proudly Jewish podcast.

“Not good enough. Getting a slap on the wrists tells everyone that there are no real repercussions to declaring that you’re an ally of a designated terror group, one that seeks the annihilation of an entire country and believes in the genocide of all the Jewish people.”

“Hamas is a designated terrorist group. Arrest Yasmeen Hanoosh for declaring herself Hamas,” another netizen said.

Hanoosh, who teaches Arabic, was immediately condemned in a statement by PSU President Ann Cudd, who argued that Hanoosh’s statements were “absolutely unacceptable.”

“PSU stands unequivocally against antisemitism, terrorism, and hate of any kind, including the statements made in this video,” Cudd said.

“Our university community has been working hard to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all, including our Jewish students, faculty and staff. The statements made in this video are absolutely unacceptable.”

The Iraqi-born academic has also been accused by the group Portland Against Jew Hate of spreading blood-libel about Jews, and claims that her First Amendment rights have not been protected. Hanoosh was previously under investigation for antisemitism in 2024, according to her school newspaper.

“My own department was instructed to silence me when I began speaking about the mass killings and ethnic cleansing of Gaza in October,” said Hanoosh in an undated interview.

Hanoosh also recently signed a letter in support of the Columbia University tent encampments for Gaza, pledging an “academic and cultural boycott of Barnard College and Columbia University” along with other scholars.

Those tent encampments she applauded wrought chaos on the Columbia campus. The NYC Ivy League school had to be raided by the NYPD multiple times, with some students claiming they were injured.

Earlier in the year, also in Beaverton, Oregon, was the case of Camesha Hart — a nurse who called Jews “vermin” and “dogs”on Instagram, and told Jews that she “doesn’t treat animals.” Hart was ultimately terminated, but she retains her nursing license.

This piece was brought to you by Toni Airaksinen, Senior Editor of Liberty Affair and an independent journalist based in New Jersey and South Florida. Her work has appeared in the Times of Israel, USA TODAY, Quillette, and more. Follow her on X @Toni_Airaksinen and on Instagram.