Koh Choon Hwee, a lecturer in UCLA Department of History, has emerged as a deeply troubling presence in the academic landscape at UCLA—one whose public rhetoric, social media activity, and ideological affiliations point not to critical scholarship, but to a sustained campaign of terror glorification, antisemitism, and extremist activism. Far from the role of an educator, Koh has positioned herself as an apologist for Hamas and Hezbollah, using her academic status to normalize violence and disseminate radical propaganda.
Her conduct raises serious concerns about UCLA’s commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and intellectually honest academic environment—especially for Jewish students and faculty who are directly targeted by the ideologies Koh repeatedly uplifts.
Glorifying Terrorist Leaders
Koh’s support for terrorist organizations is not subtle—it is deliberate, consistent, and public. She has used her platforms to praise leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, both U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.
- Koh reposted martyr tributes to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, referring to him as a “master of resistance.”
- She mourned the elimination of Hamas commander Yehya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 7, 2023 massacre.
- She publicly shared content from Husam Shabat, an Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades sniper affiliated with Hamas, further amplifying the voices of known terrorists.
These are not acts of political analysis—they are acts of ideological allegiance to groups that engage in suicide bombings, rocket attacks, hostage-taking, and the systematic targeting of civilians.
Justifying Terrorism and Targeting Civilians
Koh’s record goes beyond glorification—she has actively justified terrorist attacks, particularly the atrocities of October 7, when Hamas operatives carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
- In the wake of that attack, Koh reposted content defending Hamas’s assault on Israeli towns and civilians, providing “context” that framed the massacre as a form of resistance.
- She shared pro-Hezbollah materials that endorsed attacks on Israeli civilian centers, ignoring international laws of armed conflict and dismissing the humanity of victims.
- Koh elevated voices that celebrated violence, pushing a narrative that normalized terrorism under the language of liberation.
This behavior reflects not the values of rigorous scholarship, but the dangerous logic of radical militancy.
Disseminating Antisemitic Propaganda
Koh’s social media history reveals a pattern of antisemitic messaging, often masked as anti-Zionist critique but in clear violation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
- She labeled the Israeli Defense Forces as “terrorists” and reposted memes invoking Hitler to mock or diminish Jewish suffering.
- She called for global boycotts not just of Israeli institutions, but of Israeli individuals, including supporting efforts to fire an Israeli Microsoft employee for their prior IDF service.
- In a public youth lecture, Koh played a song by the Palestinian rap group DAM, laced with anti-Israel and antisemitic themes, using cultural programming to normalize hostility toward Jews.
Koh has also been a vocal proponent of BDS-style cultural warfare, weaponizing her academic and media presence to demonize Jewish identity, Israeli sovereignty, and Western liberal norms.
Amplifying Extremism on Campus
Koh’s on-campus activism at UCLA further reveals her alignment with radical elements that have disrupted university life, harassed Jewish students, and openly celebrated terrorism.
- She signed and circulated statements from the UCLA Department of History defending students involved in the 2024 pro-Hamas encampments—spaces known for antisemitic slogans, barricading Jewish students, and honoring terrorists.
- Koh opposed disciplinary actions against students arrested during these encampments, framing consequences for unlawful behavior as political persecution.
- She defended the takeover of Moore Hall, which protestors illegally occupied and renamed in honor of Bassel al-Araj, a Palestinian terrorist killed in a shootout with Israeli forces.
Through her actions, Koh has become a faculty-level enabler of the very forces threatening campus safety and academic integrity.
Conclusion: Academia as a Weapon
Koh Choon Hwee has abandoned the responsibilities of a scholar in favor of militant propaganda and political incitement. Her ongoing glorification of terrorist leaders, justification of civilian massacres, and public dissemination of antisemitic narratives are not protected acts of free inquiry—they are violations of the core values of education, human dignity, and lawful discourse.
UCLA must confront the reality that Koh’s continued presence on campus undermines student safety, distorts historical truth, and emboldens extremist ideology. This is not academic freedom. This is the weaponization of the classroom in service of terror.
She should be held accountable—not rewarded with a platform.