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INTIFADA: HAMAS in the US, Then and Now
is a detailed investigation into Hamas's 37-year presence in the United States. Led by Lara Burns, a former FBI agent and the current head of terrorism research at George Washington University's Program on Extremism, this podcast explores the group's growth, influence, and its ties to the U.S., particularly in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attacks. Burns unpacks the facts to provide a clear and informed understanding of Hamas's role and strategies in America.
Episodes
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
In Episode 1, Ms. Burns and Ms. Baker reveal the inception of HAMAS’s U.S. infrastructure,overseen by “the Architect,” Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and apivotal figure in embedding HAMAS’s operations in the U.S. This episode delves into the organizedefforts within American borders that supported HAMAS through financial, propaganda, andlogistical networks—structures that continue to evolve with global implications. Through exclusiveaccounts and primary evidence, listeners will gain insight into HAMAS’s layered organizationalapproach and its deep connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as Marzook’s dealings withinternational powers.
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
The series begins with a powerful prologue recounting the harrowing events of October 7, 2023, when HAMAS launched an assault on Israel by land, air, and sea. This opening episode shares the firsthand accounts of survivors like Natalie Sanandaji, a New York native attending the Nova music festival, who narrowly escaped the massacre as rockets and gunfire shattered the dawn. Listeners will also hear from Moshe Emilio Lavi, whose family near the Gaza border endured terror as his brother-in-law was taken hostage. These personal stories highlight the devastating human toll and lasting trauma caused by HAMAS’s brutal tactics, which was followed quickly by an outpouring of support for HAMAS by individuals and groups in the US. The Prologue poses the question- Why did these groups express support for HAMAS, rather than condemning the deadly attacks? The Prologue sets the stage for understanding the broader implications of the series.
Lara Burns
Head of Terrorism Research
Lara Burns is a distinguished attorney and retired federal agent with more than 23 years of experience leading teams in complex international terrorism investigations. At the outset of her career as an FBI Special Agent, she led the Department of Justice’s largest terrorism financing investigation and prosecution, United States v. Holy Land Foundation, et al, which led to the conviction of some of Hamas’ top fundraisers in America. She was later hand-selected to serve as an FBI Special Assistant United States Attorney in the NDTX-Dallas office, assigned to the National Security Section, where she litigated a variety of federal criminal cases. She was then appointed as an FBI Supervisory Special Agent and the International Terrorism Program Coordinator for the FBI Dallas office’s counterterrorism program in 2015. In that capacity, she led investigations and prosecutions in various terrorism matters that spanned the globe. She was also an FBI instructor for the majority of her career, teaching federal, state, local, and foreign governments about terrorism financing, money laundering, and interview techniques. She retired from the FBI in April 2023, and worked as a Cyber Security researcher in the private sector until she joined the Program on Extremism in May 2024.