Anne Norton, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has repeatedly used her platform to promote anti-Semitic rhetoric, express support for Hamas terrorists, and dismiss the atrocities committed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Jewish men, women and children. Through her public statements, tweets, and appearances at pro-Hamas rallies, Norton has shown a troubling alignment with extremist ideologies, undermining peace and fostering division. Her actions have sparked widespread criticism and calls for her removal from her academic position.

Anne Norton Celebrating Hamas Terrorism

Norton publicly celebrated the Hamas-led terror attack on October 7, 2023, where approximately 1,200 Jewish women, children and men were brutally murdered, and hundreds more were kidnapped. On the same day, she tweeted:

• “Palestinians have the right to defend themselves. I ‘utterly condemn’ the occupation and structures of discrimination. ‘There is no justification.’”

Rather than acknowledging the massacre of civilians, she framed the events as legitimate resistance. Norton also retweeted a post downplaying the nature of the attack, stating:

• “Palestinians didn’t break through a ‘border’ to enter Israel. They destroyed a fence separating them from the homes they were forced out of.”

Her statements disregard the mass atrocities, including rape, torture, and the execution of civilians, carried out by Hamas on that day.

Denial of War Crimes and Defense of Hamas

Norton has repeatedly denied Hamas’s involvement in war crimes, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. On October 9, 2023, she responded to reports of widespread sexual violence by Hamas terrorists by tweeting:

• “Please don’t amplify this.”

This statement dismissed credible accounts of sexual violence, forensic evidence, and witness testimonies. She later defended Hamas’s actions, tweeting on February 15, 2024:

• “Perhaps the most important casualty of Israel’s insistence on stripping Palestine of its political leaders. In this context, it is indecent for Israel to complain about Hamas. That is the enemy they made for themselves.”

Norton has further echoed extremist talking points, calling Gaza a “Nazi-style concentration camp” and accusing Israel of genocide, statements that draw false equivalencies and perpetuate dangerous narratives.

Anti-Semitism and Hostility Toward Jews

Norton’s rhetoric frequently veers into blatant anti-Semitism. In a tweet on February 28, 2024, she equated current events to Nazi Germany, stating:

• “For those who have wondered what they would have done in Germany in the 1930s: now you know.”

The implication of this comparison is to equate Israeli policies with Nazi genocide, a recognized form of contemporary anti-Semitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Norton has also denied the existence of anti-Semitism in pro-Palestinian spaces, tweeting on November 19, 2023:

• “And I have neither seen nor heard any antisemitism while rallying for a free Palestine. I have seen many Jews with us.”

Her denial disregards the rising tide of anti-Semitic incidents globally and the fears of Jewish students on campuses.

Key Incidents

• October 16, 2023 – Pro-Hamas Rally: At a rally supporting Hamas, Norton attacked Penn President Liz Magill for condemning the terror group, stating:
  • “McGill is capable of writing a letter about grief without mentioning the word Palestine.”
    She further accused Israel of being a terrorist state and justified Palestinian violence.
• December 9, 2023 – Petition for Dismissal: A Change.org petition demanded Norton’s dismissal from Penn, citing her actions as contributing to a hostile environment for Jewish students.

Conclusion

Anne Norton’s repeated defense of Hamas, denial of war crimes, and propagation of anti-Semitic narratives make her a controversial and divisive figure. Her statements, far from fostering critical academic dialogue, have amplified hatred and glorified violence, creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and undermining the values of coexistence and respect.