Squad-backed NJ Democrat who volunteered with Al Qaeda-linked group wins primary to replace Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

Adam Hamawy, an Egypt-born former combat surgeon who once volunteered with an Al Qaeda-linked group in Bosnia, emerged victorious Tuesday in the Democratic primary for retiring Rep.Bonnie Watson Coleman’s (D-NJ) seat. Hamawy — a staunch critic of Israel who was endorsed by “Squad” Reps.

Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), as well as socialist Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — was the top vote-getter in the crowded Democratic primary race for the Garden State’s deep-blue 12th Congressional District. An Iraq War veteran, Hamawy has made national headlines for saving Sen.

Tammy Duckworth’s (D-Ill) life after a helicopter crash as well as for his volunteer work in the Gaza Strip.However, Hamawy’s 1994 internship with the Benevolence International Foundation in Bosnia, and his association with the infamous “Blind Sheikh” have also drawn scrutiny. The 9/11 Commission Report described the now-defunct Benevolence International Foundation’s operation in Bosnia as part of an “impressive array of offices [that] covertly provided financial and other support for terrorist activities” by Osama bin Laden in the 1990s.Authorities alleged in a 2003 court filing that Benevolence International was used by the terror group as a front “to establish a base for operations in Europe against Al Qaeda’s true enemy, the United States.”Jewish Insider first uncovered Hamawy’s past work with the foundation. Hamawy was never charged or faced any accusations of involvement with Islamic terrorism.A spokesperson for his campaign described attacks on Hamawy’s work with the foundation as “desperate,” “absurd” and “bigoted.” Hamawy also had a yearslong relationship with Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in 1995 after his followers carried out the bombing of the World Trade Center two years earlier.

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