A woman from New York, Catherine Beth Washburn, faces arrest for allegedly leading an extremist group and posing with hand grenades in front of a Hamas flag. She is accused of providing substantial financial support to a Palestinian terrorist organization.
Washburn, 37, resides in Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester. She faces charges of attempting to support the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a recognized Foreign Terrorist Organization. Conviction could lead to a 20-year federal prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.
According to the Justice Department, Washburn led the Direct Action Movement for Palestinian Liberation (DAMPL), a radical group established after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. DAMPL reportedly opposes peaceful protests and chooses ‘direct action,’ which includes property destruction and sabotage against Israeli-linked entities.
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The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force unearthed communications with an individual claiming to be an active PIJ fighter in Gaza. Washburn allegedly expressed strong anti-Semitic sentiments, stating she wished for Israel’s disappearance and saying she would fight alongside the resistance if she lived in Gaza.
She allegedly found ‘excitement’ in news of Israeli soldiers being killed. In one exchange, Washburn reportedly said, “I wish every day were October 7th.”
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U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo remarked on Washburn’s extensive efforts to fund violence, driven by a self-professed hatred of Israel and Jewish people. Financial records show she executed about 80 cryptocurrency transfers totaling over $30,000 to a PIJ account.
In a November 2025 message, she allegedly joked about her activities, remarking, “Based on my past fundraising and posting, I’m going to get put away for a few lifetimes,” followed by a laughing emoji.
Coult Markovsky, Acting Assistant Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, emphasized accountability for those aiding violent organizations. “This individual, as alleged, provided money to a foreign terrorist organization engaged in violence,” he stated, reaffirming the FBI’s dedication to disrupting funding for terrorist activities.
Alexandra Koch, a Fox News Digital Editor, focuses on high-impact events shaping national discussions. She has covered significant crises such as the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.