Michigan Democratic Senate Candidate’s Half-Sister Praises October 7 Attack, Criticizes Sanders
Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, faces renewed scrutiny after media reports revealed that his half-sister, Iman Abd El-Hadi, posted a video marking the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack in Israel. In the video, shared on October 7, 2024, Abd El-Hadi wore a Palestinian kaffiyeh and expressed a "blessing" for the day when Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. She invoked the phrase "Allahu Akbar" and spoke about enduring oppression and seeking justice beyond colonial narratives.
The controversy intensified as Abd El-Hadi had previously criticized U.S. progressive leader Bernie Sanders for condemning the Hamas attack, accusing him of failing to stand with oppressed people fighting their oppressors. Additional posts from Abd El-Hadi surfaced, including one from 2016 expressing disdain for U.S. Independence Day celebrations and another from 2024 Thanksgiving, linking the holiday to colonialism and genocide. Abdul El-Sayed himself has publicly condemned the July 4th celebrations and called for reparations for Native Americans, though some posts have been deleted.
El-Sayed’s campaign distanced itself from his sister’s rhetoric, emphasizing that while he loves her, they differ on political views and foreign policy. The campaign highlighted El-Sayed’s focus on public service and his commitment to Michigan and America. Abd El-Hadi has a history of political activism, including an arrest in 2025 during protests against ICE detention centers.
El-Sayed won the Michigan Democratic Senate primary narrowly over moderate pro-Israel candidate Haley Stevens, in a race seen as a test of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. Stevens received significant financial backing from the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, but El-Sayed prevailed despite a much smaller campaign budget. The general election against Republican Mike Rogers, who currently leads by about 4%, will be closely watched as a measure of progressive influence in swing states.
This episode highlights ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party over Israel and Palestine, with El-Sayed’s candidacy symbolizing the rise of a more outspoken progressive faction willing to challenge traditional party stances on foreign policy.
