Dr. Hibah Osman, a Lebanese national affiliated with Harvard University, has leveraged her academic standing to promote anti-Israel activism under the guise of public health advocacy and faculty solidarity. Her record reveals a pattern of aligning with politicized, one-sided narratives that downplay Jewish trauma, dismiss terrorism, and inflame campus discourse around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hibah Osman’s Disturbing Ideology
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Academic Bias:
Co-authored the Atlas of Palliative Care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, referring to Gaza/Israel as “the occupied Palestinian authorities” — language rooted in political activism rather than medical neutrality. -
Advocacy for Boycotts and Divestment:
Signed the Lebanese Academic Boycott of Israel in 2009, long before the current conflict escalations. In 2024, she took part in the “Teach-In BDS at UMass,” and joined a protest opposing the AMA’s neutrality in the Israel-Hamas war. -
Promotion of BDS at Harvard:
Signed multiple statements under the Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, including the group’s foundational letter in January 2024. These statements were later removed from public websites, likely due to growing scrutiny over antisemitic ties. -
Anti-Israel Public Commentary:
At multiple events, including the 2024 “From Gaza to Cuba” panel and the “Gaza Educate Medics Conference,” Osman accused Harvard and the broader medical community of complicity by “remaining silent” on alleged Israeli crimes. She has consistently framed the conflict in terms of genocide and colonialism without acknowledging Hamas’s terrorism or October 7 atrocities. -
Fundraising and Activism:
In 2024, Osman raised funds under the banner “Bring Urgent Relief to Gaza,” while speaking at protests organized by Healthcare Workers for Palestine, a group known for promoting divestment and accusing Israel of “scholasticide.” -
Undermining Institutional Responses to Antisemitism:
Osman signed the Harvard Faculty Statement in Support of Academic Freedom in November 2023, which characterized the university’s antisemitism task force as an attack on free expression — despite rising incidents of Jewish harassment on campus.
Summary:
Hibah Osman presents herself as a public health advocate, but her consistent alignment with BDS campaigns, anti-Israel protests, and faculty organizations defending extremism marks her as a political actor. By cloaking her activism in academic credentials and medical concern, she adds institutional legitimacy to campaigns that vilify Israel, erase Jewish suffering, and destabilize Harvard’s campus climate. Her ongoing influence raises serious concerns about bias, politicization of healthcare discourse, and the safety of Jewish students in the university setting.
