Anti-Israel Activist Hannah Gunn Admits She Is White and Jewish, Not Palestinian

Hannah Gunn, a 34-year-old anti-Israel activist in Philadelphia, has confessed to deceiving people for years about her identity. For an extended period, Gunn presented herself as a Black woman of Palestinian and Tunisian descent. However, an investigation by the Philadelphia Inquirer revealed that she is, in fact, white and Jewish, hailing from an affluent family in Virginia whose parents reside in Israel.

In a public apology, Gunn admitted, "I lied about my identity and have been lying for years. I have no Palestinian or Tunisian origins." Her deception included adopting a foreign accent and using makeup to darken her skin, while working as a high school teacher. She was a prominent figure in Philadelphia's anti-Israel movement.

Gunn's activism drew significant attention, including a campaign by Accuracy in Media that labeled her "Philadelphia's top antisemite" and used trucks displaying her image. This campaign followed a protest she organized outside a Jewish-owned bakery two months after the October 7th attacks. Canary Mission, an organization monitoring antisemitic activities, characterized this protest as a show of support for Hamas.

During the bakery protest, Gunn used a megaphone, stating "every martyr's life is precious," and urged demonstrators to "resist" and "disrupt" until "Palestine is free." She also shared content on social media targeting Jewish people and encouraging action against Jewish-owned businesses.