SouthernWorldwide.com – A pro-Palestinian plastic surgeon in New Jersey, who notably testified as a witness in a significant terrorism case on behalf of a convicted Islamic cleric, has secured victory in the New Jersey Democratic primary.
Adam Hisham Hamawy, a former Army combat medic with Egyptian origins, emerged victorious in a competitive 12-way Democratic primary contest for a House seat known for its strong Democratic leanings. This outcome was reported by The Associated Press.
Hamawy had been widely considered the frontrunner to succeed the retiring Representative Bonnie Watson-Coleman, a Democrat representing the Trenton area. He garnered considerable support from the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
He faced increasing scrutiny regarding his past associations as a young adult with Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman. This cleric was convicted for inciting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, an act that resulted in the deaths of six people and injured thousands. The notorious “Blind Sheikh” was also identified as an influential figure among al Qaeda terrorists.
Hamawy had provided testimony as a defense witness, and his role in the convicted sheikh’s 1996 trial has continued to raise questions.
The political newcomer also fielded questions about his connections to a now-defunct front group in Eastern Europe, which had links to al Qaeda. He briefly volunteered for this organization in 1994, as initially reported by Jewish Insider.
Hamawy received endorsements from prominent figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the popular Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, among other leading progressives. Additionally, American Priorities, a relatively new pro-Palestinian super PAC, contributed financially to his campaign, playing a role in his success.
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The district, which encompasses the liberal Mercer County and extends north to Somerville and the Plainfields, is recognized as a safe Democratic seat. The state itself has been trending blue, moving away from the closer margins seen in President Donald Trump’s 2024 race.
Given the large number of candidates, few had managed to rally a unified opposition to Hamawy. However, one opponent, Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, did publicly label the surgeon as a “radical extremist.”
Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, expressed “deep concerns” to Jewish Insider regarding Hamawy’s “associations with terrorist organizations and leaders who have attacked America.”
Activist Sue Altman, who was unsuccessful in her 2024 bid against Republican Representative Tom Kean Jr. in an adjacent district, was another of the twelve candidates competing against Hamawy.
Altman recently secured support from influential figures within the Democratic establishment, including former Governor Jon S. Corzine, former Senator Robert “The Torch” Torricelli, and former Senator Bill Bradley.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, publicly credited Hamawy with saving her life during an overseas deployment to the Middle East in 2004. Hamawy, in turn, credited her with assisting in his evacuation in 2024, after his medical mission was reportedly stranded due to a border crossing closure near Khan Younis, Gaza.
During that humanitarian trip, Hamawy stated that he had “never… witnessed the level of atrocities and targeting of my medical colleagues,” an apparent reference to the actions of the Israeli government.
