Yasmeen Hanoosh, who said “I am Hamas, we are all Hamas” will be back in the classroom this Fall
The Portland State University Arabic professor who was put on leave earlier this year after claiming to be part of Hamas is now slated to teach two Arabic courses this Fall.
The professor — Dr. Yasmeen S. Hanoosh — was at the center of a social media firestorm earlier this year after she was filmed at a pro-Hamas rally in Beaverton, Oregon, saying “I am Hamas, we are all Hamas” as she pointed around to her fellow protesters.
Liora Gez, the founder and executive director of Stop Antisemitism, said in an interview that the development was disappointing.
“Portland State, a hotbed of antisemitism, suspended Yasmeen Hanoosh hoping to escape the spotlight,” she explained.
“But, apparently now they have reinstated the professor who said, 'I am Hamas. We are all Hamas.' A person who celebrates and identifies with bloodthirsty murderers should not play any part in shaping young minds. We call on the Justice Department and the Department of Education to bring the full weight of federal law to bear on this atrocity."
Both the United States and the European Union consider Hamas a terrorist group, and it is responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel that killed hundreds of Israelis and resulted in the ongoing hostage situation, with about 50 Israelis still believed to be held by the terrorist entity.
While this one singular incident put Hanoosh in the spotlight, Hanoosh has a notable track record of doing things Jewish people consider antisemitic, like shouting “From the River to the Sea” at protests and saying “Globalize the Intifada.”
The Iraqi-born academic has also been accused by the group Portland Against Jew Hate of spreading blood-libel about Jews. 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 said about that investigation.
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 and at least one instance of accidental gunfire.
While Portland State University President Ann Cudd initially released a statement a few months ago saying that Hanoosh’s speech was “absolutely unacceptable” — it appears that the professor will be back on campus this Fall.
As the head of the Arabic Department at Portland State, Hanoosh will teach an introductory Arabic class, and another class for students who completed their first year of Arabic last year.
Each class is worth four credit hours and the classes will meet-in person, not online. So far, both classes have a modest enrollment, with 14 students enrolled to take first year Arabic, and 19 students enrolled for a second year of Arabic.
When asked for comment on the classes, Portland State University referred to a statement noting the professor is still on leave, despite the fact she will be teaching a class next semester. They had no other information to give. Hanoosh did not respond to multiple inquiries for comment.
This exclusive report is by Toni Airaksinen, Blogger at Times of Israel and Editor of Liberty Affair. Her reports have appeared in USA TODAY, Quillette, and many more. Follow her on X @Toni_Airaksinen and on Instagram.
