Dem Senate Hopeful's Staffer Posted Anti-Zionist Remarks, Glorified Hamas

A former social media manager for a Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful in Florida made numerous online posts expressing anti-Zionist sentiments and support for Hamas, including wishing for the death of Zionists and calling them "freedom fighters."

Sara Mahmoud, who worked for Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon's Senate campaign, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Zionists, or supporters of the state of Israel, should "die." In one deleted post, she asked, "Can Zionists die already?"

Mahmoud also expressed support for Hamas, the militant organization that launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. In a 2018 post, she wrote, "Glory and honor to our freedom fighters. Praying for their safety and success." On the same day, Hamas fired rockets into Israel. She also re-posted a message celebrating Hamas's 31st anniversary, stating, "Palestine is the land of the Arab Palestinian people... #Hamas31."

These and other posts were cataloged by watchdog group Canary Mission. The findings shed light on Mahmoud's views during her employment with Nixon, who is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Mahmoud's posts also targeted "White Jews," with one 2016 post stating, "Wow, white Jews are so entitled lmfaoooo please die." She also equated Zionism with white nationalism, writing, "Zionism = white supremacy. PLZ get this! Zionism wasn’t made for all Jewish people and doesn’t represent all Jewish people!"

In 2017, Mahmoud wrote, "Twitter banned me for saying zios [sic] should ch*ke but here’s my cute a-- nails." Despite these comments, some dating back to 2015, Mahmoud was hired by the Nixon campaign in June. According to Federal Election Commission filings, she received at least $8,400 for her services between June and July. Mahmoud is no longer employed by the campaign.

A spokesperson for Nixon's campaign did not comment on whether they were aware of Mahmoud's posts or deemed them appropriate. They stated that Mahmoud had found another employment opportunity.

Nixon herself has voiced criticism of the U.S. partnership with Israel, framing her concerns as related to humanitarian issues and the loss of civilian lives in Gaza. "Caring about thousands of innocent lives lost does not make anyone antisemitic. You can turn your backs on me because I am on the right side of history because I don’t’ want the babies to die," Nixon said in a speech to the Florida Legislature.

Nixon supports reducing U.S. aid to Israel and reassessing the bilateral partnership, aligning with the DSA's platform, which advocates for Palestinian autonomy, including the "right of return, the right to resist military occupation and the right to self-determination in a free Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital."

Mahmoud's online activity also included accusations that Israel was committing genocide and ethnic cleansing, comparing Israeli actions to those of Hitler in 2015. In 2017, she wrote, "Defend, as defined by Israeli forces: use Palestinians as target practice, sexual assault 75% of children in custody, apartheid."

Mahmoud did not respond to a request for comment.