Tarek Barzouk, Columbia Campus Protester, Has Direct Connections to Hamas

Image: Jihad Watch

Tarek Bazrouk, 20, is currently awaiting trial after being indicted on three federal hate crimes against Jews — a case that underscores growing concerns about the intersection between violence, intimidation, and international terrorism.

According to his detention filing, provided to The Jerusalem Post by the US Department of Justice, Bazrouk was a member of a chat group that received regular updates from Abu Obeida, the chief spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.

Bazrouk, who is not a student at Columbia University, repeatedly came to its Manhattan campus under false pretenses. According to the filing, he physically assaulted Jewish individuals at pro-Israel rallies and related events on at least three separate occasions. Each time, he was arrestable — yet after each arrest, he was inexplicably set free while awaiting trial, fueling concerns he might attack again.

He was not a “peaceful protester”; instead, his attacks were overtly aggressive and threatening. His first attack, on April 15, 2024, involved kicking a Jewish student in the stomach while shouting “Allahu Akhbar”— all while wearing a green Hamas headband, a symbol of solidarity with the group. Later in 2024, Bazrouk punched a Jewish student in the face during a demonstration near Columbia. Subsequently, in another incident, he punched a victim in the nose while screaming, “F*** you, Nazi.”

Evidence shows that Bazrouk is a deep sympathizer with, and a participant in, a network connected to Hamas — even if he’s not a formally sworn member. His phone was filled with photos of keffiyeh-draped Hamas fighters and its leader, Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023.

When investigators searched his residence, they found weapons and large amounts of cash — a hunting knife, spent casings, brass knuckles, and $750,000 in cash — fueling suspicion that he was preparing for further attacks. (He may have kept or disposed of a firearm, which was not recovered, adding to those worries).

Additionally, messages from his phone reveal that Bazrouk was proud of his relatives’ involvement in Hamas — stating he was “mad happy” upon learning about their affiliation during a trip to the West Bank in September 2024. This loyalty to the group’s cause appeared to inspire his own attacks in the United States, turning him into a kind of “lone actor” following their lead.

American officials, including the FBI and the CIA, have long suspected that some individuals participating in anti-Israeli demonstrations on US campuses may be influenced by or connected to terrorist organizations. The Tarek Bazrouk case is the first in which direct and credible evidence has been presented tying a protester to Hamas’s operations — a precedent that signals a growing vulnerability.

If convicted on each count of assault and battery, Bazrouk could face up to five years in prison per offense. His arrest, and eventual trial, will be a significant precedent — hopefully a strong warning to those who contemplate turning political expression into an opportunity for violence.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)