List of Palestinian Americans

This is a list of notable Palestinian Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.

The list is ordered by category of human endeavour. Persons with significant contributions in two fields are listed in each of the pertinent categories, to facilitate easy lookup.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Palestinian American or must have references showing they are Palestinian American and are notable.

List

Academics

Nadia Abu El Haj, author and professor of anthropology at Barnard College and subject of a major tenure controversy case at Columbia University
Ibrahim Abu-Lughod, former director of graduate studies at Northwestern University, father of Lila Abu-Lughod
Lila Abu-Lughod, professor of anthropology and women's and gender studies at Columbia University
Ismail al-Faruqi, former professor of religion at Temple University and authority on comparative religion & Islam
Naseer Aruri, Chancellor Professor of Political Science at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
Bilal Ayyub, professor, University of Maryland, College Park
Hanna Batatu, Marxist historian most known for his work on Iraqi history
Iymen Chehade, Palestinian-Israeli conflict professor, Columbia College, Art Institute
Munther A. Dahleh, professor and director at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Palestinian)
Leila Farsakh, professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston
Samih Farsoun, professor of sociology at American University and editor of Arab Studies Quarterly
Nadia Hijab, journalist with Middle East Magazine and senior fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studies
Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University
Joseph Massad, professor at Columbia University known for his work on nationalism and sexuality in the Arab world
Ali H. Nayfeh, Palestinian-American mechanical engineer, the 2014 recipient of Benjamin Franklin Medal in mechanical engineering
Edward Said, professor at Columbia University best known for his work on the subject of Orientalism.
Rosemarie Said Zahlan, historian, journalist & author, sister of Edward Said
Steven Salaita, former professor of English at Virginia Tech, winner of Myers Outstanding Book Award for the Study of Human Rights 2007
Hisham Sharabi, Professor Emeritus of History and Umar al-Mukhtar Chair of Arab Culture at Georgetown University

Activists

Alex Odeh, activist tied to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Authors, poets, playwrights, and journalists

Susan Abulhawa, author
Ali Abunimah, journalist and co-founder of The Electronic Intifada
Ibtisam Barakat, writer and poet
Jamal Dajani, journalist and television producer
Suheir Hammad, poet
Ray Hanania, journalist
Nadia Hijab, journalist with Middle East Magazine and senior fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studies
Sahar Khalifeh, novelist and founder of the Women's Affairs Center in Nablus
Ismail Khalidi, playwright
Daoud Kuttab, award-winning journalist
Najla Said, author, actress, playwright, and activist, daughter of Edward Said
Saleem (Saleem Azzouqa), gay Muslim playwright, actor, DJ, and dancer
Naomi Shihab Nye, poet, songwriter, and novelist
Lisa Suhair Majaj, poet and scholar
Dena Takruri, journalist, on-air presenter, and producer
Shireen Abu Akleh, journalist and producer

Business and commerce

Sam Bahour, co-founder of the Palestine Telecommunications Company, first private telecommunications company in the Middle East
Mohamed Hadid, luxury real estate developer and businessman
Bashar Masri, businessman who is involved in building Rawabi, the first Palestinian planned city
Ramzi Musallam, billionaire financier
Farouk Shami, founder of Farouk systems, a Houston-based company that manufactures hair care and spa products like CHI hair Irons

Film, performing, and visual arts

Hanan Alattar, operatic singer and actress
Sama Alshaibi, visual artist
Mohammed Amer, comedian, writer, actor;
Charlie Bisharat, Grammy Award-winning violinist
Cherien Dabis, film director
Said Durrah, comedian
Hanni El Khatib, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Yousef Erakat, YouTuber
Bella Hadid, model and actress
Gigi Hadid, model and actress
Rami Kashou, fashion designer
Yousef Khanfar, photographer
Mousa Kraish, actor
Mai Masri, filmmaker and director
Jordan Nassar, visual artist
Dean Obeidallah, comedian
Tareq Salahi, appeared on television show The Real Housewives of D.C.
Nida Sinnokrot, installation artist and filmmaker
Josie Totah, actress and comedian
Issa Twaimz, YouTuber
Amer Zahr, comedian, author and university lecturer
Waleed Zuaiter, actor and producer
Michael Malarkey, actor and musician
Nasri Tony Atweh, singer-songwriter, and record producer

Judiciary

Edward Rafeedie, Federal District Court judge for the Central District of California from 1982 until his death in 2008.

Medicine

Laila Al-Marayati, director of women's health at the Eisner Pediatric and Family Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles
Hashem El-Serag, doctor and medical researcher on Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the hepatitis C virus

Military

Peter R. Mansoor, U.S. Army colonel, executive officer to Gen. David Petraeus during Iraq War troop surge of 2007

Musicians

Hanni El Khatib, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Fredwreck, record producer & DJ
DJ Khaled, record producer & DJ
Simon Shaheen, oud and violin musician and composer

Politics

Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, head of the Minaret of Freedom Institute, an Islamic libertarian think-tank
Justin Amash, Congressman from Michigan
Huwaida Arraf, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement
Mubarak Awad, founder of the Palestinian Centre for the Study of Nonviolence
Iman Jodeh، first Muslim legislator in Colorado^[1]
Johnny Khamis, member of the San Jose City Council.
Sam Rasoul, American politician, House of Delegates 11th District Election, 2017
Ruwa Romman, member of the Georgia House of Representatives
Ibraheem Samirah, member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Linda Sarsour, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, civil rights activist, and co-chair of the Women's March on Washington (2017)
Chris Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire (R) (2017–), son of Governor John H. Sununu
John E. Sununu, US Senator from New Hampshire (2003–09), son of John H. Sununu
John H. Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire (1983–89) and White House Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush (1989–91)
Rashida Tlaib, U.S. Representative from Michigan's 13th Congressional district

Religion

Benny Hinn, Pentecostal televangelist
Omar Suleiman, imam

Sports

Oday Aboushi, American football player for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL)
Hazem Ali, professional wrestling manager known as "Armando Estrada"
Hanna Barakat, sprinter
Gibran Hamdan, NFL QB
Omar Jarun, soccer player and member of the Palestine national football team
Belal Muhammad, mixed martial artist
Dean Muhtadi, professional wrestler known as "Mojo Rawley"
Ramsey Nijem, mixed martial artist
Tarek Saleh, former NFL player
Omar Sheika, boxer

Other

Sami Al-Arian, former professor at University of South Florida, prominent civil rights activist, imprisoned & indicted on controversial charges, cleared then deported^[2]
Nidal Malik Hasan, former soldier convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting
Palestina "Tina" Isa, honor killing victim, daughter of Palestinian American Zein Isa, her killer^[3]
Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, teenager killed by the IDF while driving in the West Bank^[4]
Mohammad Khdour, American-born teenager shot dead by an Israeli gunman outside Biddu^[5]
Rasmea Odeh, convicted of immigration fraud, for concealing her arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for a fatal terrorist bombing^[6]^[7]
Wadea al-Fayoume, six year old boy living in the Chicago metropolitan area who was murdered by his landlord in the wake of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.

References

^ "Iman Jodeh, a community activist and educator, is poised to become Colorado's first Muslim lawmaker". 23 October 2020.
^ Hussain, Murtaza; Greenwald, Glenn (February 5, 2015). "Exclusive Interview: Sami Al-Arian, Professor Who Defeated Controversial Terrorism Charges, is Deported from U.S." The Intercept.
^ Krajicek, David J. (2013-11-10). "Justice Story: 'Die, my daughter, die!' An old-world 'honor killing' in modern St. Louis". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
^ "An American teen was killed in the West Bank. His family wants answers". Washington Post. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
^ Hansler, Jennifer (2024-02-15). "Blinken offers condolences on reported killings of two Americans in West Bank and calls for investigation | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
^ "US activist found guilty of not disclosing conviction in fatal Jerusalem bombing". The Guardian. 10 November 2014.
^ "Palestinian activist convicted of immigration fraud in Detroit". Reuters. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016.

[first-1] "Iman Jodeh, a community activist and educator, is poised to become Colorado's first Muslim lawmaker". 23 October 2020.

[2] Hussain, Murtaza; Greenwald, Glenn (February 5, 2015). "Exclusive Interview: Sami Al-Arian, Professor Who Defeated Controversial Terrorism Charges, is Deported from U.S." The Intercept.

[KrajicekNYDN-3] Krajicek, David J. (2013-11-10). "Justice Story: 'Die, my daughter, die!' An old-world 'honor killing' in modern St. Louis". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2019-12-03.

[4] "An American teen was killed in the West Bank. His family wants answers". Washington Post. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-10-06.

[5] Hansler, Jennifer (2024-02-15). "Blinken offers condolences on reported killings of two Americans in West Bank and calls for investigation | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2024-10-06.

[fatal-6] "US activist found guilty of not disclosing conviction in fatal Jerusalem bombing". The Guardian. 10 November 2014.

[reut-7] "Palestinian activist convicted of immigration fraud in Detroit". Reuters. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016.

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