Rachel Griffin Accurso, extensively often known as Ms. Rachel, a beloved determine in kids’s schooling, is below assault by a pro-Israel organisation for talking out on the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
The group, StopAntisemitism, has accused her of “spreading Hamas propaganda” merely for elevating consciousness concerning the hunger of Palestinian kids and advocating for the supply of life-saving support.
StopAntisemitism, a right-wing organisation infamous for focusing on critics of Israeli insurance policies, has lengthy confronted criticism for equating authentic concern for Palestinian rights with antisemitism. In a letter to US Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi, obtained by The Put up, the group’s director Liora Rez referred to as for an investigation into whether or not Ms. Rachel’s advocacy violates the Overseas Brokers Registration Act (FARA), a legislation sometimes used to counter covert overseas lobbying.
Rez claimed Ms. Rachel was “incorporating Hamas-like propagated pictures and tales” and criticised her for allegedly ignoring the plight of Israeli victims. Nonetheless, lots of the examples cited by StopAntisemitism have been independently verified as correct depictions of Gaza’s humanitarian disaster.
One disputed submit featured Fadi al-Zant, a baby from Gaza affected by each cystic fibrosis and hunger, as confirmed by his mom in The Washington Put up. The group additionally dismissed verified experiences of youngsters dying from hypothermia throughout Gaza’s harsh winter, regardless of documentation from UNICEF, Docs With out Borders, and the Gaza Well being Ministry.
Learn extra: UN chief says Gaza reworked into ‘killing area’
StopAntisemitism additional claimed that 1.7 million tonnes of support had reached Gaza, a determine contradicted by widespread reporting of a complete blockade since early March. Famine circumstances, notably in northern Gaza, have been confirmed by a number of humanitarian organisations.
Whereas the group continues to defend Israeli army actions, investigations by Amnesty Worldwide, Human Rights Watch, and the Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ) have raised critical issues over potential warfare crimes and a believable threat of genocide. As of April 2025, greater than 33,000 Palestinians, together with over 15,000 kids, have been killed, and a whole lot of 1000’s face hunger.
Ms. Rachel, recognized for her in style instructional collection Songs for Littles, has made it clear her advocacy is just not political however pushed by compassion.
Chatting with The Unbiased, she described how witnessing the trauma of Palestinian kids compelled her to behave. Regardless of elevating over $50,000 for humanitarian aid, together with support for Gaza, she has confronted on-line harassment and smear campaigns.