The campaign of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) disbursed a payment to a pro-Palestinian activist who had previously raised funds for West Bank refugee camps that Israeli officials assert have connections to Hamas and other militant groups, a review of campaign records by the Washington Examiner revealed. The payment, totaling $375, was made in early June to Naurin Islam for "community event entertainment" shortly before Representative Ocasio-Cortez attended an Eid celebration hosted by an organization where Islam holds a leadership position.
Naurin Islam serves as deputy director of Sapna NYC, a Bronx-based nonprofit dedicated to providing support services for immigrant communities, particularly those of South Asian descent. The organization's website identifies Islam as a key member of its leadership team, outlining its mission to assist immigrant families. According to a spokesperson for Sapna NYC, Islam's activities, including providing henna services at the Eid event and her fundraising efforts for Palestinian humanitarian aid, were conducted in her personal capacity and entirely separate from her official duties at the nonprofit.
The Washington Examiner reported that Representative Ocasio-Cortez appeared at the Eid celebration, hosted by Sapna NYC, merely days after the payment to Islam. The expense was officially listed in Federal Election Commission (FEC) disclosures as payment for event-related entertainment. Both Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign and Islam did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Examiner regarding the payment or Islam’s prior fundraising initiatives.
Islam has previously organized a GoFundMe campaign soliciting donations for Palestinian refugee camps located in the West Bank. In the campaign's description, Islam stated she visited the al-Am’ari refugee camp in Ramallah in 2024 and sought assistance for communities in al-Am’ari, Tulkarem, and Jenin. She indicated that the donations were intended to provide essential resources such as food, clothing, and supplies to residents enduring challenging conditions.
The fundraising effort has attracted scrutiny due to security concerns raised by Israeli officials regarding militant activity in some of the camps referenced in Islam's fundraiser. The Washington Examiner’s report highlighted that Israeli authorities have designated the Tulkarem and Jenin refugee camps as areas where Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other armed groups are known to operate. Furthermore, the report cited Israeli security officials who claimed that suspects linked to an alleged Hamas cell were arrested at the al-Am’ari camp in 2025.
Islam's fundraising campaign also made reference to the impact of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, detailing severe shortages affecting Palestinian refugee communities. She noted a reduction in international assistance following allegations that some employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were involved in the attack, and stated that some refugee camp coordinators had lost their sources of income. The fundraiser explicitly aimed to provide basic necessities to those affected.
The findings from the Washington Examiner emerge amid ongoing questions concerning the relationship between elected officials, various advocacy groups, and individuals involved in international humanitarian endeavors. These revelations have also prompted discussions about the clear delineation between nonprofit work, personal activism, and political activity. Sapna NYC affirmed its commitment to its 501(c)(3) responsibilities, stating that it does not engage in prohibited political activity through the organization. The group further clarified that its employees are permitted to participate in political campaigns or other activities in their personal capacities and on their own time, separate from their organizational roles.
The lack of response from both Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign and Naurin Islam to the Washington Examiner’s inquiries about the payment and the fundraising efforts leaves several aspects of the situation open to interpretation regarding the thoroughness of vetting processes for campaign expenditures and associated individuals. This incident underscores the complex landscape confronting elected officials navigating public service, personal allegiances, and the broader implications of their campaign's financial activities.
