A video of a woman named Anila Ali speaking at a pro-Israel rally in Washington DC about her representing the Muslim American Pakistani community and showing her support for the Israelis has emerged online.
In the speech, she states that she stands in unison with the Israeli Jewish community.
“The war to destroy the Jews and Jewish homeland must end once and for all,” says Anila emphatically. She goes on to explain the similarities between Islam and Judaism as both are Abrahamic religions. Explaining that Islam prohibits the horrific acts Hamas committed on October 7, she ends her remarks, by saying, “Am Yisrael Chai.”
"The war to destroy the #Jews and the Jewish homeland must end once and for all."
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) November 15, 2023
WATCH: Pakistani-American Muslim women's rights activist @anilaali's impassioned speech at today's #Israel rally in DC: pic.twitter.com/9Hdug1Nuz4
Since the video showed up, Anila Ali has been severely criticised by Pakistanis for her support of Israel. She has since switched her account to a protected one on Twitter.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan criticised her in the strongest possible words.
یہ پاکستان کےآستین کے سانپ ہیں،یہ پاکستانیوں کے زخموں پر نمک پاشی ہے،اسلام آباد اور پنڈی میں رہنے والے مقتدرہ جس کو کچھ عرصہ بعد اسرائیل سے تعلقات کا بخار چڑھتا تھا ان کی آنکھیں اب کم از کم کھل جانی چاہئے،میں نے اس وقت بھی سینیٹ کے فلور پر کہا تھا کہ یہ ریاست پاکستان کی پالیسی… https://t.co/noNUEaATWW
— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) November 16, 2023
Actor Hina Khwaja Bayat said, “How DARE she speak on our behalf? How DARE she call herself a Pakistani?”
Journalist Raja Faisal reminded her that she is standing with Zionism, not Jews.
Jews, Christians & Muslims coexisted peacefully in Palestine for centuries.
— Raja Faisal (@RajaFaisalPK) November 16, 2023
That’s why majority of Jewish brethren are protesting against Israeli barbarism.
This @anilaali doesn’t represent Pakistan or Pakistanis. She stands with Zionism, not Jews.
pic.twitter.com/TCUyI8TvRj
It’s not the first time that she has received criticism for her overtures to Israel. Back in 2022, she, along with a delegation, visited Israel claiming to represent Pakistan even though Pakistan does not accept Israel as a state. The Pakistani-American activist who helped organize the visit is the California-based co-founder of the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council.
The group comprised a few other Pakistani American Muslims including journalist Ahmed Quraishi, lawyer Rana Seyd, and Pakistani Jew Fishel BenKhald.
Ahmed Quraishi is still active on Twitter, advocating Israel’s cause since October 7.
