El-Sayed’s Half-Sister Offers ‘Blessing’ on Oct. 7 Anniversary, Sparking Controversy
One year after the Hamas attacks on October 7th, Eman Abdelhadi, the half-sister of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, shared a video message she termed an “October 7th blessing.” The message, posted on Instagram on October 7, 2024, began with Abdelhadi stating, “Allahu Akbar.” She explained that this Arabic phrase, meaning “God is greater,” serves as a reminder that “no matter how great the brutality, the oppression, the intensity of what we’re going through… the horizon of justice is just around the corner.” Abdelhadi, a professor at the University of Chicago, delivered her remarks while wearing a keffiyeh, a scarf often associated with Palestinian movements.
Context of the “Blessing”
The video was a collaborative post on Instagram featuring both Abdelhadi and the group Rabbis4Ceasefire. In a subsequent comment, Abdelhadi clarified that Rabbis4Ceasefire had organized the event as “a moment of grief for lives lost between 10/7/23 and 10/7/2024” and had invited her to participate. She described her video as her “offering” to this gathering. Notably, the original message did not specifically mention the Jewish individuals killed during the Hamas attacks.
Abdelhadi continued in her video, emphasizing her belief in a power greater than military might. “There is something greater than even the strongest armies and for me that’s God,” she stated. She reaffirmed her dedication to justice and to resisting narratives imposed by “colonial powers.” Abdelhadi concluded by urging collective action: “We have an imperative to not just imagine a better future, but to build one together. I’ll see you on the streets.”
Campaign Response and Criticism
When asked about the video, a spokeswoman for Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign stated that while El-Sayed “loves his sister and also disagrees with her on a number of political positions and the rhetoric she’s chosen to use, including on foreign policy,” the focus for voters should be on his own candidacy. “Abdul is the one on the ballot and his record of public service and his platform is what matters to voters here in Michigan. His campaign has always been about his love for America and Michigan,” the spokeswoman added.
The resurfaced video quickly drew criticism on social media platforms. A post from “Democrats for Mike Rogers,” identifying the Republican challenger, stated, “Jewish Michiganders are proudly putting country over party and rejecting Abdul El-Sayed’s extremism. We must put country over party and elect Mike Rogers.” Commentator Eyal Yakoby also shared his reaction, writing, “Abdul El-Sayed’s Sister, Eman Abdelhadi, recorded a celebration video in reaction to October 7th.”
Past Activism and Legal Issues
Eman Abdelhadi has a history of activism that has led to legal entanglements. In October 2025, she was arrested during protests outside an ICE detention facility near Chicago. She faced charges including two felony counts of aggravated battery to a government employee and two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing a peace officer, stemming from allegations that she spat on an Illinois state trooper.
El-Sayed’s Own Controversies
Abdul El-Sayed himself has faced scrutiny for his public statements regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. During his campaign, he issued a fundraising email on the second anniversary of the October 7th attacks that criticized Israeli military actions but did not initially mention the Hamas killings. He has also drawn criticism for equating Hamas and the Israeli government, labeling both as “evil.”
Further controversy has surrounded El-Sayed’s association with streamer Hasan Piker, who made a controversial statement suggesting America “deserved 9/11.” While El-Sayed has described Piker’s remark as “dumb,” he has declined to disavow the streamer, attributing the criticism to “cancel culture.”
Abdelhadi did not respond to requests for comment when reached prior to the publication of this report.
