NEW YORK (JTA) — A Jewish group called on federal authorities to probe University of California, Irvine students for allegedly raising funds for Hamas.
In a letter dated Oct. 2, the Zionist Organization of America urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the students over suspicions that they collected money for the Palestinian terrorist group.
According to ZOA, members of the Muslim Union of Students solicited money for a charity called Viva Palestina at a rally held May 21 dubbed “Israel: The Politics of Genocide.” The charity, founded by British leftist politician George Galloway, who headed the rally on the Irvine campus, has been accused of directly aiding Hamas.
“We are concerned that the funds raised at UC Irvine may have been for the purpose of providing material support and resources to Hamas, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, in violation of law,” wrote Morton Klein and Susan Tuchman, the ZOA president and director of its Center for Law and Justice, respectively.
In addition, ZOA said activists had violated university policy by collecting money without receiving university approval.
Last week, a university official responded to ZOA concerns by saying the university would launch an internal probe into the incident.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
