Layla Tabbal is a solution-based casework case planner at the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) in New York. She is also a New York University (NYU) student pursuing a degree in Near Eastern Studies, with an expected graduation in 2025. She graduated from Columbia University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree.
October 8, 2023: Leading Chants Celebrating Hamas Terrorism
One day after the horrific Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, Tabbal led several chants at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City’s Times Square, an event co-organized by groups such as Al-Awda and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). During this rally, Tabbal led the chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free,” which is widely regarded as a call for the elimination of Israel. This chant, which has been condemned as anti-Semitic by the U.S. House of Representatives, is used by both activists and terror groups to express a desire for the replacement of Israel with a Palestinian state.
Tabbal also chanted “There is only one solution, intifada revolution!”—a call for violent uprising. The term “intifada” is associated with violent acts against Israel, including hijackings, bombings, and suicide missions carried out during previous Palestinian uprisings.
Throughout the rally, Tabbal continued to lead various slogans, including “Smash the settler Zionist state!” and “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!” Such rhetoric is often interpreted as incitement to violence against Israel, glorifying acts of terrorism under the banner of “resistance”.
Current Status
As of early 2024, Layla Tabbal remains active in her role at AAFSC while continuing her studies at NYU. Her involvement in public pro-Palestinian activism and the content of her speeches and chants have drawn widespread criticism for promoting incitement and hatred, particularly in the context of the violent events surrounding the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Tabbal’s participation in rallies that glorify violence against Israeli civilians has fueled ongoing tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups in New York City and beyond.
