Two residents of the Pittsburgh area have been charged with hate crimes after they vandalized Jewish institutions and left antisemitic graffiti.
Mohamad A. Hamad and Tayla Lubit are accused of targeting the Chabad of Squirrel Hill on July 29 2024 and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Each location was defaced by graffiti that displayed phrases and symbols associated with the terrorist group Hamas.
After an FBI investigation, surveillance footage, and other evidence linked the suspects with the incident, the FBI filed charges including conspiracy and defacing of religious property.
According to the criminal complaint, the graffiti on the Chabad house read “Jews 4 Palestine”, next to an inverted triangle. This symbol is a pro-Hamas symbol, which has been widely used in pro-Hamas protests throughout the country.
FBI Special Agent Brian Collins said, “The graffiti was directly painted below a sign that read ‘Chabad Squirrel Hill.’ It was also a few feet from a large Menorah – a Jewish religious icon. The Jewish Federation sign was also defaced with the words “Funds Genocide Jews and Hate Zionists”.
The FBI launched its investigation after a Walmart surveillance video captured Hamad buying a can of “Strawberry Fields”, spray paint that was used to create the graffiti. The barcode of the spray paint was matched to the Walmart purchase, and the agents identified the suspect.
Another surveillance video captured a similar vehicle to Hamad’s near both of the targeted locations.
The complaint stated that “the Chabad video surveillance footage showed the car to be a dark-colored convertible with its top up.” Traffic cameras and other surveillance were used in order to identify the car’s unique features, including mismatched wheels on its driver’s side. This was then linked to Hamad’s Coraopolis address.
Authorities also examined digital communication between Hamad & Lubit on the Signal messaging application. The messages showed that the suspect’s motivation was Hamas’s ideology.
Hamad – a dual U.S./Lebanese citizen and former member of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard – praised terrorists and even talked about becoming a martyr to Lubit. Hamad told Lubit that his ultimate goal was to become a Shaheed (martyr). Everything else didn’t seem as important.
Lubit, an activist who is Jewish, seemed to be conflicted over her Jewish identity and her anti-Israel stance. Hamad said that she “literally felt myself beginning to see Jews as enemies.”
She appeared reluctant to take part in the vandalism. She wrote, “It is important to me that you do it in good taste if I join you.” The night before the vandalism occurred.
The FBI discovered that Hamad boasted about the vandalism, telling a friend “Imagine what terror they would have seen if they’d had cameras.” “Hamas operatives ripping off flags on white suburban streets.”
According to The New York Post, Hamad supported far-left Democratic politicians.
Hamad donated $10 in November 2023 to Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar after she demanded an Israeli ceasefire on the day Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
Hamad sent $5 in April to Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, after Congress censured her in November 2023 because she defended Hamas’ attacks against Israel’s “apartheid regime” as “resistance.”
These arrests occur at a time of rising antisemitism. Pro-Hamas militants have vandalized Jewish establishments and used physical violence on college campuses against Jewish students.
Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel in October 2023 that killed over 1,200 innocent civilians intensified tensions. Israel is waging a war against terrorism in Gaza, and the assault was the catalyst for the current conflict.
