Exploring the Terror Ties of the Swedish-Registered 'Jenin Freedom Theatre'
NYT profiled Zakaria Zubeidi—who led the U.S.-designated Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and founded the Jenin Freedom Theatre, registered as a foundation in Sweden with alleged ties to Hamas, PFLP, and PIJ
On August 12, 2025, the New York Times published a global profile of Zakaria Zubeidi, a former commander of the U.S.-designated terrorist group Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB), the armed wing of Fatah, a secular nationalist Palestinian party currently led by Mahmoud Abbas.
Zubeidi was involved in numerous deadly attacks during the Second Intifada and was among six prisoners who escaped Gilboa Prison in 2021, before being recaptured. In January 2025, he was released by Israel as part of a hostage exchange with Hamas, which involved the release of Palestinian terrorists in exchange for Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
The article has sparked controversy, with organizations like Honest Reporting asserting that it "whitewashes" Zubeidi’s involvement in terrorism. The article appears to present him in a neutral light by referring to him merely as "leading a militant group," while framing it as “To Israelis, Mr. Zubeidi was a terrorist.”
The article also mentions how Zubeidi co-founded the Jenin Freedom Theatre (TFT) with his brother Abdulrahman Zubeidi, which organizes drama workshops and performances promoted as a form of “cultural resistance” against Israel. However, the theatre, which is registered in both the Palestinian Authority and Sweden, has notable ties and associations with designated terrorist groups, including Hamas, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades (AMB), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). These associations raise concerns about its true objectives and whether it is promoting terrorism under the guise of cultural expression.
Member With Ties to Designated Terrorist Groups
The Freedom Theatre has several alleged connections to terrorist groups, with multiple documented instances of its personnel being linked to violence. Vincent Chebat, a senior researcher at NGO Monitor, has documented some of these alleged ties.
In November 2022, Mahmoud Al-Saadi, a youth trainer at the theatre, was eliminated during clashes with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). PIJ issued a statement describing him as a "martyr fighter who ascended to paradise... while confronting the invasion of the Jenin camp."
Similarly, on May 15, 2022, the theatre informed its audience of the death of Daoud Zubeidi, Zakaria’s brother, during clashes with the IDF, describing him as a "martyr.” However, images of Daoud surfaced showing him posing with an assault rifle, further solidifying his active involvement in militant activities.
On April 14, 2022, the Freedom Theatre promoted an article empathizing with Ra’ad Hazem, who murdered three Israeli civilians and injured six others in a shooting in Tel Aviv in 2022. The theatre’s ongoing support for such individuals raises significant concerns about its activities and the extent to which it aligns with violence.
Further Associations With Designated Terror Groups
The Freedom Theatre appears to have had longstanding associations with terrorist groups, including the PFLP and Hamas. In 2014, the theatre hosted a delegation of leaders from the PFLP, During this meeting, theatre officials briefed the PFLP leaders on the theatre's most prominent activities, indicating that their institution was not just for producing artists, but also for “graduating resistance fighters,” implying a dual role that involves promoting militant activities alongside cultural activities.
In April 2016, the theatre collaborated on a seminar to mark the 14th anniversary of the Battle of Jenin in 2002, when the IDF launched Operation Defensive Shield to dismantle Palestinian terrorist infrastructure during the Second Intifada. The seminar was opened by Mustafa Sheta, the current general manager of the Theatre, and included talks from terrorist leaders such as former Hamas leader Wasfi Qabha, PFLP leader Jaafar Abu Salah, and PIJ leader, Abu Hassan Aliwa. Talks from these figures included discussions on the concept of "cultural resistance."
Additionally, In March 2010, a delegation from the Freedom Theatre participated in a protest march with members of the PFLP in the West Bank village of Bil'in, opposing the IDF.
TFT's General Manager's Ties to the PFLP and Support for October 7
The PFLP has referred to Mustafa Sheta as a “youth activist,” and an article from March 2015 published on the website of the military wing of PJ identified him as an “activist in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine” in the context of his arrest by the IDF in Jenin.
On Sheta’s own Facebook on October 7, 2023, in response to the Hamas attack on Israel, he posted “#AlAqsa_Flood” and reshared a post glorifying the Hamas attack that wrote, “For the first time in history, The dream awakens reality from sleep and defeat.” He also posted a video from 2013 of a performance at a ceremony for the 46th anniversary of the PFLP, further highlighting his alignment with the group.
TFT’s Pro-Terror Productions
The theatre’s productions have raised concerns due to their sympathetic portrayal of terrorist actions. "The Siege", the Freedom Theatre’s most successful production, dramatizes the 2002 Church of the Nativity siege, where terrorists sought sanctuary in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem while surrounded by the IDF. These terrorists included members of Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, who were responsible for multiple terror attacks against Israeli civilians.
Additionally, the theatre has staged other controversial plays, such as "Pictures from the Life of Ghassan Kanafani," referencing the former spokesman of the PFLP, who was significantly involved in the operational side of its terror activities.
Concerns Over Funding & International Connections
As explained in the New York Times article, Zakaria Zubeidi’s aim was not to renounce “armed Palestinian activity” but to provide it with intellectual and cultural support. He further emphasized this by saying, “How did I open the theater door? I broke it with my rifle.” This statement underscores that the Freedom Theatre appears not to be merely a cultural institution, but a platform for promoting terror activity.
According to the Freedom Theatre’s website, it is registered as a non-governmental organization under the Palestinian Authority and as a foundation in Sweden. The Freedom Theatre's 2019 annual report states that it was initially registered as a foundation in Sweden in 2006, due to restrictions on registering Palestinian organizations. In 2007, when it became possible, the theatre registered as a non-profit association with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior. The Swedish Foundation then transferred its assets to the Palestinian association under an agreement, and continues to operate, providing a legal platform for the theatre's activities.
The theatre also mentions that it is supported by a number of “Friends Associations” in various countries, including the U.S., France, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, Scotland, and the UK.
In the past, the Freedom Theatre reportedly received hundreds of thousands of shekels annually from the Swedish government to fund salaries and student grants for theatre staff. However, the theatre’s financial ties to Sweden came under scrutiny in 2020 when it lost EU funding after refusing to sign a new agreement that listed several groups, including Hamas and PIJ, as terrorist organizations.
Given that the Jenin Freedom Theatre was co-founded by a commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and has had notable associations with PFLP, PIJ, and Hamas—all designated as terrorist groups by the EU—its apparent ongoing registration in Sweden and connections to “Friends Associations” in Western countries are deeply concerning.
According to an article in the Irish Times from 2023, the theatre relies on donations and small grants from various organizations and NGOs. Moving forward, it is essential for international donors to carefully evaluate whether their contributions are inadvertently supporting activities that conflict with their values, especially when those activities involve groups that promote violence.
OR moving forward jenin will be part of Israel and we will not have these problems anymore.