Prince Harry and Meghan CUT TIES with U.S. non-profit over anti-Israel remarks

The Archewell Foundation, established by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has officially severed ties with a Milwaukee-based nonprofit after its founder made public statements in support of Hamas. The decision comes in response to an op-ed published by Janan Najeeb, the executive director of the Afghan Women’s Sewing Circle, in which she criticized Israel and defended controversial political slogans often associated with calls for the elimination of the Jewish state.

In 2023, the Archewell Foundation awarded a $27,960 grant to the Afghan Women’s Sewing Circle, aimed at supporting services for refugee women in Milwaukee. However, following the publication of Najeeb’s op-ed titled “From the Sea to the River” in the Wisconsin Muslim Journal, Archewell terminated the relationship in April 2025. In their termination letter, the foundation stated, “We have recently been notified of an online opinion piece you wrote that goes against the values of The Archewell Foundation. As a foundation, we celebrate different perspectives and backgrounds, but we have zero tolerance for hateful words, actions, or propaganda.”

Najeeb’s article described Israel’s existence as a “75-year occupation of Palestine” and referred to ongoing actions in Gaza as “genocide.” She also defended the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” widely viewed as a call for the eradication of Israel. In response to Archewell’s decision, Najeeb issued an open letter claiming the foundation had mischaracterized her views and was unjustly punishing vulnerable Afghan women. “To suggest that the piece constitutes hate speech or propaganda is, at best, a profound misrepresentation,” she wrote.

The situation intensified after reports surfaced that Najeeb had previously spoken at an event promoting a mural that blended a Star of David with a swastika, a piece her organization later endorsed on social media. Critics argue such actions cross the line from 'political activism' into antisemitism.

Founded in 2020, Archewell has positioned itself as a philanthropic initiative promoting compassion and social justice. However, the recent controversy reveals a different story of organizations posing as 'charities' all while hiding hatred underneath.