U.S. Palestinian Community Network to Host Virtual Event with Apparent Members of U.S.-Designated Terror Groups
The USPCN nonprofit organization is set a host a virtual event on April 12 for "Palestinian Political Prisoners Day," with speakers who appear to be members of the PFLP and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade
The U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) is hosting a virtual event on April 12, 2025, to mark "Palestinian Political Prisoners Day," featuring speakers with controversial backgrounds, including individuals linked to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.
Among the speakers are Hussam Shahin, alleged to have provided support for terror attacks by the U.S.-designated Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Raed Hassanenin, an alleged member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terror group; Lama Ghosheh, a journalist previously sentenced by Israel for praising terror on social media; and Jenna Abuhasna, who will speak on behalf of Addameer, an NGO designated by Israel as a front for the PFLP.
Speakers With Alleged Ties to U.S.-Designed Terror Groups
The listed speaker, described as “Hussam Shahin from Jerusalem,” appears to be the same individual that another event speaker, Lama Ghosheh mentioned in a Facebook post, where she wrote, “Jerusalemite prisoner Hussam Shahin is freed after 22 years in Israeli prisons.” Hussam Shahin is alleged to have provided weapons and financial funding to terrorists who were involved in shooting attacks in Israel in 2002, and planned to launch car bomb at a Jerusalem police station. He reportedly helped recruit them into the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed faction of the Palestinian political party Fatah, which is a U.S.-designated terror group. Shahin reportedly served time in Israeli prison for his involvement in terror activities.
Raed Hassanenin, another speaker, is allegedly a member of the Central Committee of the PFLP, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization known for carrying out violent attacks. The PFLP's history of attacks on civilians and military personnel has drawn international condemnation, including its involvement in Hamas’ October 7 massacre against Israel.
Lama Ghosheh: Journalist Who Expressed Support for Terrorism
Lama Ghosheh, is a Palestinian journalist who was previously convicted by an Israeli court for praising terrorist activities on social media. According to Ghosheh’s Facebook, she works for the Hezbollah-affiliated media outlet Al-Mayadeen TV and Al Jazeera. Her Facebook includes numerous posts celebrating armed terrorists. She posted a photo of the PFLP leader, Leila Khaled, who was known for her role in hijacking airplanes, and called her “an extraordinary beauty.” Many of her posts celebrate violent terrorists who were released by Israel in the recent hostage exchanges, such as Zakaria Zubeidi, who was responsible for organizing dozens of attacks. She also posted a picture of herself with Khalida Jarrar, a senior PFLP member.
Following Hamas’ October 7 massacre, Ghosheh made several Facebook posts praising the attack, which included referring to the "Battle of the Flood of Al-Aqsa 2023," as "glorious." She reshared artwork glorifying the attack, further endorsing the violence. In another post, she reshared images of newspapers covering the attack, and wrote "Titles we never expected to see even in our dreams..." and "Palestinians are reshaping the world map."
USPCN Was Co-Founded by Convicted PFLP Terrorist Rasmea Odeh
USPCN, which is hosting the event, was co-founded by Rasmea Odeh, a former member of the PFLP who was convicted in 1970 for her role in a bombing that killed two Israeli college students. Odeh was deported from the U.S. in 2017 after it was revealed that she had lied on immigration forms about her criminal history.
Concerns Over Potential Violations of Anti-Terrorism Laws
The U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) accepts tax-deductible donations through the fiscal sponsorship of the WESPAC Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This arrangement enables USPCN to operate under WESPAC’s tax-exempt status, potentially sidestepping the financial transparency and disclosure requirements typically expected of standalone charitable organizations. Given the USPCN’s documented ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), as well as its history of hosting events featuring individuals affiliated with U.S-designated terrorist organizations—including one scheduled for next week—there may be sufficient grounds for the IRS to investigate both WESPAC and USPCN for possible violations of federal nonprofit regulations.