Duke Alumni and Parents Condemn Professor's Anti-Israel Statements

Frances Hasso, a Duke University professor in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, has sparked controversy over her extremist views on Israel and Palestine. Hasso, who is set to teach a course titled "Global Palestine," has repeatedly made inflammatory statements, including likening Israel to Nazi Germany and falsely accusing the country of using tactical nuclear weapons in the 2020 Beirut port explosion.
Over 100 Duke alumni and parents have signed a letter to the university president, expressing alarm over Hasso's "hatred of the Jewish state" and its impact on campus culture. They argue that her bias disqualifies her from teaching such a sensitive subject and urge the university to find a more objective instructor.
Hasso's claims, such as asserting Israel employed a "tactical nuke" in Lebanon, have been widely debunked. Experts confirm no nuclear weapon has been used since World War II, and the Beirut explosion was caused by improperly stored ammonium nitrates. Her statements, along with her frequent attacks on Zionism, have raised concerns about the academic environment at Duke and the rights of Jewish and pro-Israel students.
The backlash highlights growing opposition to anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric in academia, as well as calls for accountability and balance in teaching sensitive topics.

Published: 5/29/2025