Rafael Nabizade (Cotler Fellow '22-'23) honors Israeli victims of Hamas' terrorist attack

The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas unleashed pure evil this week when it launched a surprise attack against Israel, slaughtering and wounding thousands of innocent Israeli civilians. In the face of the evil atrocities perpetrated by Hamas, former and current fellows have not stood idly by, confronting the unspeakable injustice witnessed through acts of solidarity and speaking the truth about Hamas, a group that exists to kill Jews and does nothing to advance peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

Some have used their social media presence to engage and speak out against Hamas. Others have expressed their solidarity at demonstrations and memorials for Israeli victims in capitals across Europe. Rafael Nabizade (Cotler Fellow '22-'23) laid the flowers in front of the Israeli Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, as a gesture of solidarity, expressing his deepest condolences to the people of Israel and families of the victims, and wishing speedy recovery to those injured. He stated, "The terror attack and the indiscriminate murders of innocent Israeli citizens are a reminder of the brutality of Hamas and Iran-backed extremists. We Stand with Israel!" He also moderated a webinar addressing how Israel and Azerbaijan are confronting Iranian-backed religious terrorism.

Some have engaged the media in their home countries. In Mexico, Mauricio Robles, who participated in the pilot program that became the Irwin Cotler Fellowship, was interviewed by several national Mexican television stations about the heinous, unprecedented attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas.