New York woman faces federal charges after she allegedly funneled tens of thousands of dollars to Islamic terror group; the suspect also called for repetition of October 7 attacks and declared her hatred of Jews.By World Israel News StaffA New York woman who federal prosecutors say praised the October 7 Hamas attack and said she hated Jews “very much” has been arrested and charged with trying to provide material support to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Justice Department said.Catherine Beth Washburn, 37, of Irondequoit, a Rochester suburb, was charged by criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.Prosecutors said the support consisted of currency sent to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, also known as the Al-Quds Brigades.If convicted, Washburn faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She made an initial appearance Tuesday before US Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was detained, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.Federal prosecutors said Washburn was a leader of the Direct Action Movement for Palestinian Liberation, or DAMPL, which they described as an extremist organization formed after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The Justice Department said DAMPL rejects peaceful protest and supports “direct action,” including sabotage and property destruction, against entities it associates with Israel.Investigators said the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force executed search warrants in February and March and recovered messages between Washburn and a person who identified himself as a Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighter in Gaza and claimed to have taken part in attacks against Israel.In one message cited by prosecutors, Washburn allegedly wrote, “[i]f I lived in Gaza, I would fight alongside the resistance.” Prosecutors said she praised the man’s bravery and wrote, “I wish every day were October 7th.”Washburn also allegedly said the man was not the first fighter she had met, that she hated Jews “very much” and that she wished Israel “would disappear.” Prosecutors said she and the alleged fighter discussed attacks, weapons and ammunition.In another message, Washburn allegedly wrote, “I feel excited every time I see news of the killing of an occupation soldier.”The Justice Department said financial records showed Washburn made about 80 cryptocurrency transfers totaling roughly 30,116 USDC, equivalent to $30,116, to an account used by the alleged Palestinian Islamic Jihad member.Prosecutors also cited a November 2025 message in which Washburn allegedly wrote, “[b]ased on my passed [sic] fundraising and posting Im [sic] gonna get put away for a few life times,” followed by what authorities described as a laughing emoji.“As alleged, Washburn repeatedly voiced support for violence against Israeli civilians and attempted to provide material support to the Palestine Islamic Jihad by sending cryptocurrency to an individual who claimed to participate in its attacks,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said. “Those who aid foreign terrorist groups will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”US Attorney Michael DiGiacomo said Washburn was “fueled by her self-described hate of Israel and Jewish people” and “went to great lengths to attempt to provide financial support to terrorist organizations that use violence to further their agendas, including the Palestine Islamic Jihad.”“Despite her alleged attempts, including cryptic communications with a fighter involved in violent attacks in an area thousands of miles away, Catherine Washburn was stopped and so too were her efforts to support violent extremism,” DiGiacomo said.Allen D. Davis II, special agent in charge of the FBI Buffalo Field Office, said funding a designated terrorist group “is a serious federal crime that directly fuels violence and puts innocent lives at risk.”“This arrest reflects the FBI’s relentless focus on identifying and stopping individuals who seek to finance terrorism, glorify violence, or support extremist organizations,” Davis said.“FBI Buffalo’s Joint Terrorism Task Force will aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to promote extremism or provide financial support to terrorist organizations that threaten the safety and security of the American people.”Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization since 1997.The post NY woman who celebrated Oct 7 attacks sent $30,000 to Islamic Jihad appeared first on World Israel News.