Senator Cruz urges DOJ and FBI to probe potential involvement of foreign adversaries in Gaza war demonstrations within the US.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has urged U.S. federal authorities to investigate potential foreign involvement in escalating tensions within the United States, particularly in relation to recent protests regarding the conflict in Gaza that have been occurring on American college campuses and other locations across the nation.
On a Wednesday episode of his personal podcast “The Verdict,” Mr. Cruz highlighted a report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) that alleges ties between the “Shut It Down for Palestine” (SID4P) movement and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The NCRI report claims that organizations such as People’s Forum, the International People’s Assembly, and ANSWER Coalition, which spearheaded the SID4P protests, are being used as vehicles for CCP-related entities to influence pro-Palestinian activism in the U.S. and push forward an anti-American, anti-democratic, and anti-capitalist agenda.
Mr. Cruz stated, “If you look at this report from NCRI, it details how China is financing these protests on campuses and disrupting public spaces. China’s interest lies in sowing division in the U.S., fostering chaos, and inflicting discord that undermines our nation’s stability.”
In the same podcast, Mr. Cruz also pointed to an article by the New York Post that alleges connections between Manolo De Los Santos, a New York-based activist involved in recent pro-Palestinian activism, and Cuba. Mr. De Los Santos, who collaborates with The People’s Forum, was born in the Dominican Republic.
Report Highlights Possible Ties to Terrorist Group
The NCRI report indicates that Samidoun, an organization that endorsed SID4P, is potentially linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. In October, the German government banned Samidoun from operating within its borders.
The NCRI report also refers to an article in the German newspaper Deutsche Welle, which relies on unnamed intelligence sources to suggest the PFLP connection with Samidoun.
NTD News reached out to Samidoun for comment on these allegations but had not received a response at the time of reporting. The group, however, did release a statement criticizing the German government’s decision to ban them in October.
Samidoun vowed to challenge the German government’s prohibition.
Cruz Urges DOJ and FBI Investigation
Mr. Cruz and 15 other Republican senators sent a letter last week to the IRS requesting an investigation into nonprofit organizations involved in organizing protests over the Gaza conflict to determine if their tax-exempt status should be revoked due to potential support for terrorist entities.
During the podcast, Mr. Cruz called for the Department of Justice and FBI to initiate investigations into these activist groups as well. He emphasized, “The FBI needs to thoroughly investigate this situation. We have foreign funding from communist China and ties to designated terrorist organizations. The FBI needs to delve into whether Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, or Communist China are involved in funding and promoting these activities.”
NTD News attempted to reach out to SID4P organizers for their response to the NCRI report and Mr. Cruz’s calls for investigation, but they had not responded at the time of publication. Additionally, there was no response to requests for comment from Mr. De Los Santos.
In addition to advocating for FBI probes, Mr. Cruz also supported the deportation of foreign nationals engaged in specific protest actions. He stated, “If a student on a visa is seen burning the American flag and chanting anti-American slogans, they should be deported immediately. We are not obligated to allow individuals on student visas to engage in activities that undermine our country.”
