Khaybar
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Khaybar refers to an ancient oasis in Saudi Arabia and a significant historical event: the 628 CE Battle of Khaybar. This battle, named after the location, involved the unprovoked conquest of a peaceful Jewish community by the Muslim army led by Muhammad. In modern times, "Khaybar" has been co-opted as a provocative Arabic slogan by certain groups, to incite hostility against Jews and Israel, exploiting the historical event to fuel anti-Semitic rhetoric and justify aggressive agendas.
- Historical context: Khaybar was a prosperous oasis home to thriving Jewish tribes until the 7th century, known for their agricultural expertise and cultural contributions.
- Battle of Khaybar: In 628 CE, the Muslim army under Muhammad besieged and attacked the Jewish settlement of Khaybar, forcibly expelling its inhabitants and displacing them to regions like Syria and Iraq, disrupting a long-standing community.
- Modern political use: The phrase "Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews" ["Khaybar, Khaybar, ya yahud! Jaish Muhammad soufa ya'oud"] is a menacing slogan used by some extremist groups to evoke the historical defeat of the Jewish community, weaponizing it to promote anti-Semitic narratives and jihadist ideologies against Israel and Jewish people, a genocidal call to murder Jews rather than a response to any legitimate grievance.
Notes
- Rubenstein, R. L. (2010). Jihad and Genocide. Germany: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, pp. 178-180. [1]
- Voth, B. (2014). The Rhetoric of Genocide: Death as a Text. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing, p.79. [2]
- The 7th-Century Massacre of Arabian Jews, and Its Legacy. Tikvah, Jul 23, 2021.
- The Psychological Origin of the 1300-Year-Old Arab-Israeli War: How History Must Guide Policy Making. By Steven E. Rothke (2012).
- Discover Khaybar. Jewish Traveler Guide.
- Ramadan series 'Khaybar' is a battle cry against Jews. JPost, Jul 11, 2013
- Instagram · speakupjew. Khaybar Chant Exposed as Genocide.
- Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) Analysis [3] | Classifies the chant explicitly as "advocating for... genocide," linking it to calls for the destruction of Israel and Jewish communities. Cites its invocation during attacks and protests as evidence of intent to incite mass violence against Jews.
- Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) UK Report on Anti-Israel Demonstrations| [4] | Analyzes the chant in UK protests, translating it as a threat of Muhammad's army returning to "deal with" Jews, equating it to genocidal rhetoric. Notes its role in fostering an environment of hatred that led to hate crimes, with legal charges filed under racial hatred laws.
- Israel Institute of New Zealand Article [5] | Describes the chant as a "message of hate" with genocidal undertones, referencing its use in contemporary protests to signal intent for Jewish extermination. Draws parallels to historical pogroms and modern terrorism, calling it a "moral failure" to ignore its violent implications.
- Times of Israel Blog on Post-October 7 Lessons. [6] | Describes it a "war chant" used by Hamas and protesters, explicitly tying it to genocidal aspirations by invoking the Khaybar "massacre" as a model for eliminating Jewish presence. Argues it reveals underlying intent for total destruction rather than coexistence.
- Yas Mohammed Facebook Post (Ex-Muslim Activist) | [7] | Explains Hamas chanting it on October 7, 2023, as a celebration of a "famous story they celebrate—when a thriving Jewish community was massacred," positioning it as a direct genocidal call-back to historical ethnic cleansing.
- X (Twitter) Post by Howard Feldman. [8] | (September 2025) post calling it a "genocidal call to murder Jews," in response to Gazans chanting it amid "peace deal" celebrations, highlighting its persistence as incitement to violence.