• A New Jersey man was arrested for planning to firebomb Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani’s home.
• The plot was foiled by the FBI following a weeks-long undercover operation.
• Kiswani has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and has faced numerous threats.

A New Jersey man, identified as Alexander Heifler, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly attempting to firebomb the home of Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani. Authorities indicated that the FBI and NYPD had been conducting a weeks-long undercover operation, which culminated in the suspect's arrest as he assembled Molotov cocktails intended for the attack, according to latimes, middleeasteye, and aljazeera.

Kiswani, 31, co-founder of the advocacy group Within Our Lifetime, stated that she was informed by the FBI about the looming threat against her life shortly before the arrest. The suspect allegedly expressed intentions to flee the country after carrying out the attack, as detailed in the criminal complaint and reported by bbc and npr.

The plot originated in early February when Heifler participated in a video call where he expressed interest in making incendiary devices, specifically Molotov cocktails. He later coordinated with an undercover officer to plan the execution of the attack on Kiswani’s home, including conducting surveillance and discussing escape plans, according to court documents as reported by middleeasteye, aljazeera, and bbc.

Following his arrest, Heifler was charged with making and possessing destructive devices, which can carry severe penalties, as indicated in multiple reports from sources like latimes and npr. Kiswani expressed a sense of relief that law enforcement thwarted the plan but stated that threats against her for advocating Palestinian rights are a common occurrence.

She also pointed out that the heightened climate of violence and intimidation comes from both far-right groups and political figures. This is supported by statements made by Kiswani herself and reported by middleeasteye and bbc. The incident amplifies ongoing concerns regarding the safety of activists advocating for Palestinian rights in the United States.