Pro-Palestine Group Burns American Flag at Seattle Protest, Voices Support for Hamas
A pro-Palestinian group, Nidal, is drawing scrutiny following flag burnings and radical messaging at a Seattle protest, raising concerns about its origins, ideology, and affiliations
On the evening of July 17th, a rally titled the "Night of Rage for Gaza" unfolded in Seattle, drawing dozens of demonstrators together in a charged protest at Cherry Street Village. Among the crowd, two acts would catapult the event into controversy: the burning of both Israeli and American flags, and the public display of a “Long Live Hamas” sign.
These visuals, quickly circulated on social media, sparked outrage and allegations that the gathering normalized support for an organization labeled as a terrorist organization by the United States government. While the organizer, Nidal Seattle, described the rally as expressing “a call to get U.S. bases out of our homelands” critics saw a troubling escalation in rhetoric and imagery from a relatively new activist group determined to make its mark.
The Emergence of Nidal
Nidal Seattle describes itself as a “new organization focused on helping the Palestine Liberation movement here in the West build a culture of resistance that resembles the one back home,” with a mission statement emphasizing opposition to what it terms "US imperialism" and "Zionist colonialism." The group, which appears to have emerged in 2024, has rapidly established itself as one of the most militant pro-Palestinian voices in Seattle's activist community.
According to their social media presence, Nidal defines its mission around the concept of resistance "from the diaspora to our homelands," explicitly calling for "US OUT OF EVERYWHERE" and positioning their activism within a broader anti-imperialist framework. The organization's name itself – "Nidal" meaning "struggle" in Arabic – signals its confrontational approach to Palestinian advocacy.
The group's rhetoric consistently emphasizes what it calls "dignified rage" against "genocide and colonialism," rejecting what it characterizes as ineffective peaceful protest in favor of more militant forms of activism. Their messaging frequently incorporates phrases like "We resist, We liberate, We return" and "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea," language that critics argue constitutes a call for the elimination of Israel.
Advocacy in Support of Alleged Embassy Killer
Nidal has actively campaigned for the release of Elias Rodriguez, the Chicago man charged with the first-degree murder of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C. On May 21, 2025, Rodriguez allegedly shot and killed 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum. According to federal prosecutors, Rodriguez told police he "did it for Gaza.”
The case has been classified as a hate crime, with Rodriguez facing federal charges for the murder of foreign officials and potentially eligible for the death penalty. Despite the severity of the charges and the apparent targeting of individuals based solely on the fact that they were present at a Jewish event, Nidal. Seattle has framed Rodriguez as a political prisoner deserving of support and liberation.
The group's Instagram account shared posts from the "Free Elias Rodriguez Organizing Committee," which characterized the shooting as a justified response to Israeli actions in Gaza. The committee's statement, endorsed by Nidal Seattle, argued that Rodriguez "exacted a consequence" and described his alleged actions as "eminently defensible and morally righteous."
Network Connections: From Seattle to New York
Nidal Seattle operates as part of a broader network that includes chapters in other major cities, most notably Nidal NYC. An examination of the New York chapter's social media presence reveals even more explicit support for leaders of U.S.-designated terror groups.
The NYC chapter has posted memorial tributes to Mohammed Deif, the former commander of Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Deif, who was eliminated in an Israeli airstrike in July 2024, was considered the architect of the October 7th, 2023, attacks that killed over 1,200 Israelis. Hamas, including its military wing, has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, and numerous other countries.
In their memorial post, Nidal NYC celebrated Deif as a "martyr" and "symbol of resilience," praising his role in what they termed the "Al-Aqsa Flood operation" – the October 7 attacks. The post described his "strategic brilliance" and claimed his "legacy lives on in the hearts of revolutionaries worldwide.”
The New York and Seattle chapters of Nidal have also shared quotes from Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah, claiming that the United States is orchestrating Israel’s actions from behind the scenes. Nasrallah was eliminated in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024. Hezbollah is responsible for the deaths of 241 American servicemen and is designated as a terrorist group by the United States, Israel, the Arab League, and several other countries for its attacks on civilian targets.
Seattle's Radical Protest Landscape
Nidal Seattle operates within a broader ecosystem of Palestinian solidarity organizations in the Pacific Northwest, including connections to university-based groups like SUPER UW (Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights at the University of Washington), of which Nidal Seattle is affiliated. SUPER UW made national headlines in May 2025 when protesters occupied a University of Washington building, causing over $1 million in damage to the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building. While over 30 people were arrested, the university subsequently suspended 21 students involved in the protest.
Pro-Palestinian activists have also targeted businesses and institutions perceived as supporting Israel. In December 2023, vandals hit nearly 50 businesses in Edmonds, a Seattle suburb, with graffiti reading "free Palestine" and "stop the genocide.” In May 2025, activists clashed with security at an annual Microsoft event. Protestors targeted the company over its alleged cloud computing work with Israeli organizations.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has repeatedly called for peaceful protests while condemning antisemitism. In October 2023, he warned against antisemitism ahead of pro-Palestinian rallies and announced increased police patrols around synagogues, just days after October 7th. More recently, he has urged protesters to remain peaceful, warning that violence and property damage could reinforce negative narratives about the city.
Ideological Framework and Tactics
The July 17 "Night of Rage" event, featuring the burning of American and Israeli flags alongside pro-Hamas signage, represents an escalation in tactics that challenges traditional boundaries between legitimate protest and inflammatory demonstration. Nidal Seattle calls for "resistance by any means necessary" raises alarm due to their celebration of former terror leaders such as Mohammed Deif, and their defense of Elias Rodriguez.
The group's activities occur within Seattle's broader history of radical activism, from the 1999 WTO protests to the 2020 Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP). However, the explicit support for designated terrorist organizations and individuals accused of violence distinguishes Nidal Seattle's approach from previous protest movements in the city.