Tom Cotton, Anna Paulina Luna demand FBI look into Palestinian activist’s call to disrupt F-35 supply chain
“Nizar’s statements constitute direct incitement of violence against US national security interests by advocating for actions against the men and women who build the F-35 and seeking to imperil the delivery of one of the nation’s most strategic assets.”
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is calling on the FBI to investigate a leader of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) for what he described as “incitement of violence” against US national security interests. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna also called for the FBI to take the threat seriously.
In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Cotton raised alarms over remarks made by PYM leader Aisha Nizar at the recent People’s Conference for Palestine in Michigan. During her speech, Nizar urged activists to disrupt the supply chain of the F-35 fighter jet program, which Cotton called one of America’s most strategic military assets.
“Not smart to make a public call to mess with our F-35 supply chain. Issues of national security are taken very seriously. I have referred this individual to the FBI,” said Luna on X.
“Nizar’s statements constitute direct incitement of violence against US national security interests by advocating for actions against the men and women who build the F-35 and seeking to imperil the delivery of one of the nation’s most strategic assets,” Cotton wrote. “I urge the Federal Bureau of Investigation to immediately examine Nizar’s actions and take any necessary actions to mitigate the threat.”
Nizar reportedly told supporters that targeting even a single link in the F-35 supply chain could have “a huge impact.” She further called for activists to be “surgical” and “strategic” in intervening in what she described as “supply chains of death.”
Cotton also highlighted Nizar’s prior activism, including her arrest during a 2024 Gaza war protest that blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge. He accused PYM of engaging in antisemitic activities and potentially benefiting from illegal tax-exempt donations.
“The US defense supply chain is a key to our military’s ability to fight and win wars,” Cotton said. “We must protect that supply chain from all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
The senator’s letter comes amid heightened political scrutiny of pro-Palestinian organizations in the United States, with lawmakers warning about threats to both US allies and critical national defense infrastructure.
