Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel, a small but vocal minority of Jews—estimated at around 5% of the global Jewish population—have emerged as prominent voices in pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist activism. These individuals and groups, active both at demonstrations and online, have become unexpectedly useful to the pro-Hamas cause, often claiming to represent “true Judaism” despite their marginal status within the broader Jewish community. This article explores the key groups within this 5%, their online presence, their strategic value to pro-Hamas narratives, and the complex motivations driving their activism, including the flimsy theological arguments of Neturei Karta and the evolving perspectives of liberal Jews since October 7.
1. Organized Anti-Zionist Jewish Groups: Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), IfNotNow, and Neturei Karta
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)
JVP, the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization, claims over 300,000 supporters worldwide. Since October 7, 2023, JVP has been a dominant force at pro-Palestinian rallies, organizing sit-ins at Capitol Hill, Grand Central Station, and university campuses. Online, JVP’s social media accounts—on Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, and Facebook—have exploded in activity, posting daily updates, live streams of protests, and viral videos of Jewish activists wearing keffiyehs and holding signs like “Zionism ≠ Judaism.” Hashtags such as #JewsForPalestine and #NotInOurName dominate their feeds, reaching millions and amplifying calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, divestment from Israel, and an end to Zionism. Their online presence is strategically leveraged to counter accusations of antisemitism, making JVP a key asset for pro-Hamas narratives seeking Jewish legitimacy. Far more on JVP being not so Jewish not for peace.
IfNotNow
Founded in 2014, IfNotNow focuses on younger, progressive Jews critical of Israel’s occupation. Since October 2023, they’ve joined JVP in online campaigns and street protests, using platforms like X and Instagram to share testimonials from Jewish activists arrested during civil disobedience. Their Twitter/X threads often feature poignant personal stories, such as Jewish students facing backlash for opposing Israel, paired with calls for an end to U.S. support for Israel’s policies. While IfNotNow’s messaging appeals to liberal Jewish values, their actions align with broader anti-Zionist narratives, making them valuable allies for pro-Hamas voices seeking to broaden their appeal online and on the ground.
Neturei Karta
Neturei Karta, an ultra-Orthodox sect founded in 1938, opposes Zionism on religious grounds, believing that a Jewish state can only be established by the Messiah. Their presence at pro-Palestinian rallies—dressed in traditional Hasidic attire and carrying signs like “Judaism Rejects Zionism”—has been striking, both in person and online. On X, their appearances often garner attention for their shock value, with viral images and videos shared by pro-Hamas accounts to argue, “Even Orthodox Jews reject Israel.” However, not all depictions of ultra-Orthodox Jews online can be attributed to Neturei Karta. For instance, an X post by Isaac Choua (
@ChouaIsaac) in July 2024 (https://x.com/ChouaIsaac/status/1811482530320712042) shows an individual dressed in attire resembling that of an ultra-Orthodox Jew eating at a McDonald’s, a non-kosher establishment. While this image highlights contradictions—since strict Jewish law prohibits eating non-kosher food—there’s no definitive evidence this person is a Neturei Karta member. It may instead reflect a broader online trend of performative anti-Zionism, where individuals “cosplay” as Jews, adopting traditional attire to make a symbolic or satirical point, often amplifying pro-Hamas narratives.
Moreover, Neturei Karta’s actions at protests reveal further contradictions to their claims of strict orthodoxy. They have been documented protesting on Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath, when observant Jews refrain from work, including public demonstrations) and engaging in conversations with unrelated women, both of which violate ultra-Orthodox Jewish norms of modesty and Sabbath observance. These behaviors, alongside their alliances with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah (labeled as antisemitic and terrorist by the ADL), undermine their theological purity, making their anti-Zionist stance based on Jewish law appear increasingly flimsy.
2. Individual Jewish Activists and Grassroots Participants
Beyond organized groups, individuals claiming to be anti-Zionist Jews—progressive, secular, or former Israelis—bolster these numbers online and at protests. However, a significant concern is that many of these “Individual Jewish Activists” are not Jewish at all. On platforms like X, TikTok, and Reddit, non-Jews have been known to pose as Jewish activists, adopting Jewish symbols, attire, or names to lend credibility to pro-Palestinian messages. They share personal stories of disillusionment with Israel, often using hashtags like #JewsAgainstGenocide or #FreePalestine, but their lack of genuine Jewish identity is exposed by basic misunderstandings of Jewish law, history, or culture. A humorous example of this phenomenon was recently uncovered in January 2025, as reported by JNS.org (“Gaza ‘chief rabbi’ exposes Jewish illiteracy of suspected Turkish-run ‘Hasidic’ organization”). A parody social media account posing as “Rabbi Linda Goldstein,” the fictitious “chief rabbi of Gaza,” interacted with an account claiming to represent an anti-Zionist “Hasidic” group tied to the Turkish-based “Torah Jews.” When “Rabbi Goldstein” solicited a donation for her OnlyFans page to fund her temple’s lease in Gaza and asked if the group was based in Turkey, the “Authentic Jew” account responded with confusion, claiming affiliation with the Viznitz Hasidic dynasty but revealing glaring ignorance of Jewish practices. This exchange exposed the account as likely run by non-Jews, possibly in Turkey, exploiting Jewish identity for anti-Zionist propaganda. This “cosplay Jew” trend amplifies pro-Hamas narratives by creating the illusion of widespread Jewish dissent, even when the individuals involved have no connection to Judaism.
3. Liberal Jews Evolving Since October 7, 2023
Many liberal Jews, previously supportive of a two-state solution or moderate Zionism, have shifted toward anti-Zionism since October 7, horrified by Israel’s military response in Gaza, which has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths (per Gaza’s health ministry). Online, these individuals flood forums, X threads, and Jewish community pages with calls for ceasefire and criticism of Israel, often unaware of how their voices are co-opted. On X, their posts may start with personal reflections on Jewish ethics but evolve into broader anti-Zionist rhetoric, shared and amplified by pro-Hamas accounts. Joshua Muravchik’s Commentary article (“Not So Jewish, Not for Peace,” March 2024) argues that such activists, while sincere, are a tiny fraction of Jews (around 5%) and are often exploited by anti-Israel groups, including those sympathetic to Hamas, for their symbolic value. However, the presence of non-Jews posing as Jewish liberals online complicates this landscape, as their posts may inadvertently bolster pro-Hamas narratives under false pretenses.
Why Anti-Zionist Jews Are Useful to the Pro-Hamas Cause
Anti-Zionist individuals, whether genuine Jews or not, comprising only about 5% of the global Jewish population, are invaluable to pro-Hamas narratives because they provide a shield against accusations of antisemitism. By claiming to represent “true Judaism,” these groups and individuals—whether Neturei Karta, JVP, or non-Jews posing as Jews—suggest that opposition to Israel aligns with Jewish values, not hatred of Jews. Online, their posts and videos are shared widely by pro-Hamas accounts on X, Telegram, and TikTok to argue, “Even Jews oppose Israel,” undermining Israel’s legitimacy. At demonstrations, their presence in traditional garb, progressive attire, or fabricated Jewish identities creates powerful imagery, and online, performative acts like the McDonald’s photo or the “Rabbi Linda Goldstein” parody amplify this narrative, whether the individuals are genuine or not.
However, as Muravchik notes, this claim to represent “real Jews” is dubious. Most Jews globally—around 95%—support Israel’s right to exist, even if they critique its policies. Neturei Karta’s assertion, in particular, rests on a narrow, fringe interpretation of Jewish law, which I’ll unpack below.
The Flimsy Argument of Neturei Karta: A Layman’s Guide
Neturei Karta opposes Zionism based on a Talmudic concept called the “Three Oaths,” derived from a passage in the Babylonian Talmud (Ketubot 111a). They argue that Jewish law prohibits Jews from establishing a state in Israel before the Messiah’s arrival, as God imposed three oaths: Jews must not rebel against the nations, nations must not oppress Jews excessively, and Jews must not “ascend to the Land of Israel” en masse. For Neturei Karta, Zionism violates these oaths, making the State of Israel a “sinful” act against God.
This argument is flimsy for several reasons, as most Orthodox Jews reject it:
- Historical Context: The Three Oaths are not a binding legal code but a poetic or allegorical discussion in the Talmud, not universally accepted as law. Most modern rabbis and Jewish scholars dismiss it as irrelevant to contemporary geopolitics, especially given the Holocaust and the need for a Jewish homeland after millennia of persecution.
- Majority Rejection: The vast majority of Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jews—over 90%—support Israel’s existence, viewing it as a fulfillment of Jewish history and survival, not a violation of divine will. Passover (Pesach), the major Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt and the return to the Promised Land (Israel), underscores this connection. During the Seder, Jews retell the story of liberation and God’s promise of Israel as a homeland, directly contradicting Neturei Karta’s passive waiting for a Messiah. The holiday’s emphasis on active Jewish agency in returning to Israel undermines their theological stance, making their claim to “real Judaism” seem hollow.
- Practical Contradictions: Neturei Karta’s actions often undermine their claim to strict adherence to Jewish law. Their protests on Shabbat (when observant Jews refrain from work, including public demonstrations) and interactions with unrelated women (violating ultra-Orthodox norms of modesty) contradict their supposed orthodoxy. Their alliances with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah—labeled as antisemitic and terrorist by the ADL—further discredit their theological purity, as Jewish law (Halakha) prohibits associating with those who seek Jewish harm or engage in violence. Additionally, online depictions of individuals dressed as ultra-Orthodox Jews engaging in non-kosher behavior, like eating at McDonald’s, highlight inconsistencies, though these may involve performative “cosplay” rather than actual Neturei Karta members.
The ADL’s backgrounder on Neturei Karta (www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/neturei-karta) describes them as a “fringe group” with an “extreme agenda,” noting their meetings with Iranian leaders and Hezbollah, which align with anti-Semitic and anti-Israel forces. The ADL warns that Neturei Karta’s appearances at rallies and online are often exploited for photo ops, not genuine theological debate, highlighting their marginal status and questionable motives. However, as seen with the McDonald’s image and the broader “cosplay Jew” trend, some online portrayals may involve impersonation or satire by non-Jews, further complicating their public image.
Motivations of Anti-Zionist Individuals: Principle, Grievance, and Exploitation
Liberal Jews of Principle
Many liberal Jews, especially since October 7, join anti-Zionist causes out of genuine ethical concern for Palestinian suffering. They may not understand how their voices are co-opted by pro-Hamas narratives. Online, their posts on X, Instagram, or Jewish forums decrying Israel’s actions often go viral, amplifying calls for ceasefire without realizing they’re aligning with groups hostile to Jewish safety. Their awakening reflects a moral shift driven by Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, but their lack of historical context about Zionism’s role in Jewish survival—rooted in events like the Holocaust and Passover’s narrative of return—leaves them vulnerable to manipulation. However, some of the online voices claiming to be liberal Jews may actually be non-Jews posing as Jews, as seen in the “Rabbi Linda Goldstein” parody.
Individuals with an Axe to Grind
Some anti-Zionist individuals, whether Jewish or not, may harbor personal grievances—rejection from Jewish communities, intermarriage with non-Jews, or alienation from religious norms. For instance, a non-Jew married to a Palestinian or Muslim partner might adopt a Jewish persona online to prove loyalty to their spouse’s community, leading to public anti-Zionism. Others, excluded from Jewish or Zionist circles, might channel resentment into activism, as Muravchik suggests in his Commentary article, where he critiques the “not so Jewish” nature of some activists’ claims. Their X posts or blog entries may reveal bitterness, inadvertently aligning with pro-Hamas narratives for attention or validation, whether they’re Jewish or not.
Neturei Karta’s Unique Role
Neturei Karta’s motivations are theological but also performative. Their documented appearances at rallies and online draw attention, but their alliances with Hamas and Iran, as noted by the ADL, suggest a willingness to prioritize anti-Zionism over Jewish safety, making them useful to pro-Hamas narratives despite their small numbers. However, online depictions like the McDonald’s photo may not always involve Neturei Karta, instead reflecting a broader trend of “cosplay Jews”—individuals, often non-Jewish, adopting Jewish attire or identities for symbolic purposes, often to amplify anti-Zionist messages.
Conclusion: A Tiny Minority with Outsize Impact
The 5% of genuine anti-Zionist Jews—whether organized groups like JVP and Neturei Karta, individual activists, or newly radicalized liberals—play an outsized role in pro-Hamas advocacy, both online and at demonstrations. However, the presence of non-Jews posing as Jews, as illustrated by the “Rabbi Linda Goldstein” parody and the broader “cosplay Jew” trend, significantly inflates these numbers and amplifies pro-Hamas narratives. Their claim to represent “real Judaism” is tenuous, especially given Passover’s celebration of return to Israel and the overwhelming Jewish support for Zionism (around 95%). While some act out of principle, others may be driven by personal grievances or unwitting exploitation. Online, performative acts by non-Jews pretending to be Jewish further muddy the waters, as seen in the McDonald’s image and the Turkish-run “Hasidic” account. Understanding their motivations and the flimsy foundations of their arguments, like Neturei Karta’s, is crucial to countering their amplification by anti-Israel forces, ensuring Jewish voices remain rooted in the broader community’s values and history.