Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Melissa Sacks
Treasury Sanctions a Hamas-Supporting Nonprofit With Ties to South Africa
“The South African government does not have any relationship with Hamas.” The South African ambassador to Qatar, Ghulam Hoosein Asmal, made this claim in 2024 despite having met with a delegation from the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA). On January 21, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the PCPA, a senior PCPA official, and six other nonprofits for supporting Hamas.
Hiding in Plain Sight: A Playbook for Combating Hamas in South Africa
Hamas has found a friend in South Africa. The country’s historically dominant African National Congress (ANC) political party maintains close ties with the terrorist group and provides Hamas with crucial diplomatic and political cover. This allows Hamas to raise funds and advance its ideology in Africa and beyond. All of this is compounded by the systemic corruption plaguing South Africa.
U.S. Professors Flocking to Terrorist-Run Turkish Think Tank
The United States banished former University of South Florida professor Sami al-Arian for supporting terrorism. But some U.S. academics have flocked to him, like flies to manure. Since his deportation in 2015, al-Arian has turned his pseudo-academic center in Turkey into a mecca for both terrorists and American academics sympathetic to their viewpoint.
5 Ways South Africa Undermines U.S. Interests - and What Must Change
The United States must increase pressure on South Africa to reverse five of its harmful policies. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s arrival in Washington this week to meet with President Donald Trump offers the administration an opportunity to take stock of a bilateral relationship that is increasingly out of line with American interests and values.
Hamas and Turkey: Partners in Terror
Turkey’s History of Hamas Support Thousands of people rallied at Istanbul’s iconic Galata Bridge on New Year’s Day 2025 in support of the Palestinian cause and to protest Israel. Bilal Erdogan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son, was among its speakers. Bilal spoke of the “martyrs” of Palestine, including Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7, 2023, slaughter of 1,200 Israelis. This is, by now, barely newsworthy given Ankara’s long track record of pro-Hamas rhetoric.
The Fundraising Shortcut Ripe for Abuse
Did tax-exempt money help activists release maggots and mealworms on the Israeli prime minister’s delegation to Washington, DC, in late July? The perpetrators reportedly hailed from the Palestinian Youth Movement, which receives tax-exempt donations through WESPAC, a Westchester, NY-based non-profit. Many of the most active and most hostile pro-Palestinian groups operating today are raising money for their activities through an opaque funding typology: fiscal sponsorship.
Hamas’ Enablers in the Turkish Government
Turkey’s patronage of Hamas is well-established and widely known. Ankara has hosted the terrorist organization inside of its borders since 2011. Since Hamas carried out deadly terrorist attacks on October 7, the Turkish government has pursued a duplicitous policy of increasing its public advocacy for Hamas, vilifying Israel in the minds of Turkish citizens, all while profiting from continued trade with Israel.
Turkey: A Sanctuary for Terrorist Entities& Illicit Finance
A livestream of the conversation will begin here at 11:15am ET on Friday, March 8. For questions about FDD events, contact For media inquiries, please contact . In the wake of Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks on Israel, Turkey’s material support for the terrorist organization has come under increased scrutiny by the United States and beyond.
The U.S. Should Sanction Mohammed Mushanish
Turkey is notorious for harboring Hamas terrorists and affiliated entities, and it is unclear why the U.S. government does not take a tougher stance. Following the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, carried out by Hamas, Ankara has increasingly come into focus, for the many ways in which it provides material support to the Gaza-based terror organization.
Dutch Authorities Catch Hamas Financier Red-Handed
Amin Abou Rashed, president of the European Palestinians Conference (EPC), was rubbing elbows with Swedish politicians at an EPC event in late May. A month later, Rashed and his daughter were reportedly behind bars in the Netherlands for funneling €5.5 million to Hamas. This is just the latest instance of Hamas and other terrorist groups operating under the guise of charities and non-governmental organizations. According to Dutch law, the names of suspects are not released until after a conviction.
Dutch Authorities Catch Hamas Financier Red-Handed
Amin Abou Rashed, president of the European Palestinians Conference (EPC), was rubbing elbows with Swedish politicians at an EPC event in late May. A month later, Rashed and his daughter were reportedly behind bars in the Netherlands for funneling €5.5 million to Hamas. This is just the latest instance of Hamas and other terrorist groups operating under the guise of charities and non-governmental organizations. According to Dutch law, the names of suspects are not released until after a conviction.
Why Are US Universities Rehabilitating a Convicted Palestinian Terrorist?
College seminars on terrorism do not usually feature an actual terrorist, yet Sami al-Arian spoke at just such a panel at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis last December. The moderator introduced al-Arian as a scholar, apparently failing to mention that al-Arian is also a noted practitioner of terrorism. After the event, a university administrator apologized for hosting a convicted terrorist.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Melissa
Contact Melissa, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack