Attorneys representing Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani stated on Monday that the danger she faces might extend beyond the individual charged in a recently thwarted firebomb attempt targeting her residence. Kiswani, the founder of the advocacy group Within Our Lifetime, has been a key organizer of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in New York City.

Call for Expanded Investigation

Concerns Over Broader Conspiracy

Speaking at a press conference in City Hall Park on March 30, 2026, Kiswani’s legal team voiced concerns about the scope of the threat. Attorney Eric Lee informed reporters that federal agents indicated Kiswani was only secure from the “specific threat” linked to the arrested suspect, not necessarily from any wider peril.

This distinction is why the legal team insists investigators must thoroughly examine a group video call from February 10, mentioned in the criminal complaint. Lee suggested this call implies that other individuals might have possessed prior knowledge of the alleged plot.

Legal Strategy Shift

Jonathan Abady, another lawyer for Kiswani, announced that the legal team would adopt an “offensive operation” rather than merely playing defense. This strategy aims to defend the rights of those advocating for Palestinians by pursuing action against groups and individuals they believe contributed to the threatening environment.

Details of the Arrest and Charges

The Alleged Plot Against 'Victim-1'

The call for a broader probe follows federal authorities charging Alexander Heifler, 26, of Hoboken, NJ, on Friday. The charges relate to an alleged plan to attack Kiswani’s home using Molotov cocktails. The criminal complaint identifies the target only as “Victim-1,” though Kiswani has been publicly named as the intended victim.

Heifler faces charges in New Jersey for unlawful possession and making of firearms, specifically tied to alleged destructive devices under federal statutes. Kiswani, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the charges, stating they did not adequately reflect what she views as the hate crime, terrorism, and premeditation involved in the alleged plot.

Undercover Investigation Details

Court filings reveal Heifler’s involvement in a February 10 video conference with a group that included an undercover law enforcement officer. During this call, Heifler allegedly inquired about locations suitable for throwing “Molotovs.”

The following day, Heifler met the undercover officer in person to discuss vandalizing “Victim-1’s” home. Investigators state he shared the address, discussed using fake license plates, and planned an escape route abroad. He later conducted surveillance on the residence with the officer.

Further meetings detailed in the complaint show Heifler allegedly admitted to previously constructing a Molotov cocktail and discussed using gloves to avoid leaving DNA evidence. On March 26, Heifler and the officer assembled eight Molotov cocktails at Heifler’s Hoboken home before law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized the devices.

Political Context and Ongoing Threats

Elected Official Response

Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement framing the incident as part of a larger trend of political violence against Palestinian advocates. Mamdani noted that a member of a Jewish Defense League offshoot, designated a “known violent extremist organization” by the FBI, allegedly built explosives to target Kiswani’s home.

Mamdani also mentioned the defendant’s reported plan to flee to Israel post-attack and praised the NYPD and FBI for stopping the plot. He stressed that New York would not tolerate violent extremism, framing the case within an “alarming rise in threats and violence” against advocates.

Kiswani’s Continued Fear and Activism

At Monday’s press conference, Kiswani highlighted Mamdani's remarks as the most direct response from an elected official. She noted that the office explicitly named her and the alleged perpetrators, avoiding vague public safety language.

While the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated the investigation is ongoing with “no current threat to the community,” Kiswani and her lawyers maintain the danger persists. Kiswani reported that the FBI contacted her family late Thursday regarding the threat and subsequent arrest, but she continues to receive violent messages threatening her home.

Kiswani confirmed she has intensified extensive safety measures, stating she no longer feels safe going out alone, even for basic errands. She noted that she lived under intense pressure, including threats during her pregnancy, forcing her family to develop safety routines.

Connection to Previous Civil Action

Civil Suit Against Betar

Monday’s discussion linked the alleged plot to a broader intimidation campaign Kiswani has faced. She filed a civil suit on February 25 against the organization Betar, its leaders, and members under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, alleging stalking and racially motivated threats.

The suit claims Betar engaged in sustained harassment due to her activism, including offering rewards for confronting her, threatening her citizenship, and tracking her movements, which interfered with her ability to travel freely. This action follows a prior settlement where Betar was barred from inciting violence after an investigation found it targeted Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish New Yorkers.

Legal Path Forward

Kiswani’s lawyers reiterated that the New Jersey criminal case should not be isolated. They plan to use both legal avenues and public pressure to seek accountability for those inciting violence, not just the man charged.

A hearing in her civil case against Betar is scheduled for April 14 in the Southern District of New York. Kiswani concluded by vowing the alleged assassination plot would not silence her advocacy. “I will not stop speaking out for the Palestinian people,” she stated, emphasizing that no mother should fear for her child’s safety at home.