Pro-Israel groups target Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub after MEE interview

Pro-Israel groups have targeted Nadeen Ayoub, the first Miss Palestine to compete at the Miss Universe contest, after she appeared on Middle East Eye to discuss her historic participation at this year's iconic beauty pageant.

Ayoub, who represented Palestine at the Miss Universe competition late last month, spoke to Middle East Eye's Real Talk podcast about what it meant to carry Palestinian identity onto one of the world's most visible cultural stages.

Shortly after the interview was published, the 27-year-old became the target of a coordinated campaign, with pro-Israel organisations and activists directing harassment, personal attacks and allegations at her across multiple social media platforms.

Betar USA, the American branch of the Betar movement, a Revisionist Zionist organisation that has drawn condemnation for its aggressive campaigns against Palestinians and pro-Palestinian voices, began attacking Ayoub over her previous marriage to Sharaf Barghouti, the son of jailed Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti.

Imprisoned by Israel since 2002, Barghouti - a central figure during the Second Intifada - is serving multiple life sentences in an Israeli prison.

Viewed by many as Palestine's Nelson Mandela, Barghouti is widely regarded as a symbol of resistance and as a potential unity figure capable of playing a key role in any future Palestinian state.

During her interview with MEE, Ayoub heaped praise on her former father-in-law, who has faced repeated attacks in Israeli detention and was beaten unconscious by Israeli prison guards on 14 September.

"Palestinians are proud of Marwan - the world sees him as a peace symbol," Ayoub said.

'Palestinians are proud of Marwan - the world sees him as a peace symbol'

- Nadeen Ayoub, Miss Palestine

"So what they [pro-Israel voices] really did is they just opened a door for me to speak about another cause of ours, so thank you."

The American pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism, which has gained infamy for repeatedly attacking the children's content creator Ms Rachel, also targeted Ayoub over her personal life.

In a comment written on MEE's Instagram page, the group alleged that Ayoub's former father-in-law was a "terrorist", asking why she "doesn't ever mention that".

Last month, hundreds of public figures launched a worldwide campaign advocating for Barghouti's release, with signatories including billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, writer Arundhati Roy and comedian/activist Bassem Youssef.

A poll held by the People's Company for Polls and Survey Research (PCPSR) in October showed that if Palestinian Authority elections were held, Barghouti would win hands down.

Discrimination

During Ayoub's interview with MEE, she also described facing racism and disbelief over her Palestinian identity throughout the competition.

"They called me a 'tiara-rist'. How funny, hilarious," she mockingly said, referencing a New York Post article that sought to discredit her prior to the pageant being held.

"I faced discrimination because Palestinians cannot look educated and beautiful and well spoken - 'She must be American, she must be Italian, she must be Egyptian'," she added.

Ayoub also recounted tense encounters with the Miss Israel contestant during the pageant, saying that political pressure intruded repeatedly into shared spaces.

"There were times where we were taking group photos, and she [Melanie Shiraz] kept chasing me with the Israeli flag and trying to take a picture beside me," Ayoub said.

"She was complaining about them [Miss Universe organisers], writing that she is an IDF/IOF [Israeli army] soldier, a previous IOF soldier. And she said: 'This is compromising to me'."

Since the interview aired, Shiraz took to Instagram to deny seeking to get into a photo with her. Her comments came after viral videos appeared to show Shiraz giving Ayoub a sideways glare as they stood next to each other during the welcome event last month.

However, livestream footage from the event showed that the pair were a row apart.

Since US President Donald Trump brokered his Gaza ceasefire deal on 10 October, Israel has committed hundreds of violations in the besieged Gaza Strip and killed at least 405 Palestinians.

Israel has effectively turned the 'yellow line', a demarcation imposed inside Gaza since the October ceasefire, into a de facto firing line. Anyone approaching the area is routinely met with lethal fire from Israeli forces, regardless of the reason.

Real Talk is available to watch on YouTube and is also available on other podcast streaming platforms.