Statement by Bronx Antiwar Coalition, May 14m 2025
Today’s meeting between HTS leader Jolani and Trump exposes the so-called “Free Syria” movement’s betrayal of the Palestinian cause. Spearheaded by the reactionary Syrian diaspora in the West, the “Free Syria” movement has abandoned all pretenses of solidarity with Palestine by backing extremist, rebranded Al-Qaeda figures like Jolani. Their true agenda is clear: to divert Syria away from the Axis of Resistance and realign it as a U.S.- and Zionist-controlled client state, modeled after Persian Gulf Arab regimes like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
This betrayal is not new. It dates back to 2012, when U.S. official Jake Sullivan declared, “AQ is on our side in Syria,” epitomizing the U.S. strategy of using extremist actors to achieve regime change. From that moment, the Free Syria movement deliberately shifted its focus away from Palestinian liberation, endorsing figures like Jolani, whose primary objective has been to normalize ties with the Zionist entity. Far from advancing liberation, the Free Syria movement has actively undermined it, prioritizing geopolitical realignment over solidarity with Palestine.
In recent years, the Free Syria movement has cloaked its betrayal in rhetoric steeped in Syrian identity and liberal identity politics. By infiltrating Western pro-Palestinian discourse, it manipulates narratives of justice and liberation while aligning with the agendas of Gulf states. These states—like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—have openly traded the Palestinian cause for economic rewards and U.S. approval. The Free Syria movement mirrors this behavior, working to transform Damascus into a profit-driven client state akin to Dubai, Riyadh, or Abu Dhabi, where economic interests and military alliances with the West replace Syria’s historical support for the Palestinian resistance.
Today’s meeting underscores this deception. Trump’s praise of Jolani as a “young, attractive guy with a very strong past” reveals the West’s calculated embrace of such figures. Trump’s instruction for Jolani to “get the Palestinian [resistance] out” of Syria further exposes the anti-resistance purpose of this alliance. Tellingly, Jolani made no demands to lift the siege on Gaza, halt the genocide against Palestinians, or even mention Gaza. This silence is damning—it confirms that, by aligning with figures like Jolani, the Free Syria movement has brazenly abandoned any notion of supporting Palestine.
Simultaneously, these actors vilify Hezbollah, martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Iran, and the broader Axis of Resistance—those who, alongside the Palestinian resistance, have sacrificed the most in defense of Palestine. By demonizing these true liberators, the Free Syria movement deflects attention from its own collaboration. This tactic mirrors Zionist propaganda, further exposing their alignment with its interests while masquerading as supporters of Palestine.
The evidence is indisputable: the Free Syria movement’s support for Jolani and HTS represents a calculated betrayal of both the sovereignty of the Syrian people and the Palestinian cause. This betrayal is rooted in the reactionary Syrian diaspora’s fixation with toppling the Syrian government at any cost—even at the expense of Palestinian liberation. Today’s meeting confirms their agenda to transform Damascus into a U.S.- and Zionist-aligned client state. It is imperative to expose their treachery, hold them accountable, and reaffirm our collective commitment to resisting Zionism and fighting for the liberation of Al-Quds.