Miss Palestine’s True Identity Revealed: Daughter-in-law of Armed Faction Leader Imprisoned for 22 Years

[Financial News] Controversy has arisen after it was revealed that the woman representing Palestine at the international beauty pageant Miss Universe is linked to an armed resistance group.
According to multiple foreign media outlets, including the New York Post and The Jerusalem Post on the 24th (local time), Nadeen Ayoub, who is participating as Palestine’s first representative at the Miss Universe 2025 competition, is married to Sharaf Barghouti. Sharaf Barghouti is known as a leader of the Second Intifada, the Palestinian armed uprising.
The Jerusalem Post reported, "Ayoub married the son of a terrorist leader," identifying Sharaf’s father as Marwan. This was based on Ayoub’s social media activity. She was previously referred to by her husband’s surname, 'Barghouti,' on Facebook, and Marwan Barghouti’s wife reportedly posted a congratulatory message about their marriage.
Marwan Barghouti led the Second Intifada, which began in 2000. He was convicted of killing five Israelis and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2002, and has been incarcerated for 22 years. Due to his long imprisonment, he is sometimes called the 'Mandela of the West Bank.' Previously, Hamas demanded Barghouti’s release during ceasefire negotiations, but the State of Israel refused.
Earlier this month, Ayoub participated in the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, as Miss Palestine. A video showing Melanie Shiraz, who represented the State of Israel, seemingly glaring at Ayoub on stage went viral on social media, fueling speculation that the Israel-Palestine conflict was manifesting at the Miss Universe event. Regarding this, Shiraz explained in a Fox News interview on the 17th that "the video was edited to make it look like I was the only one looking at her," and said she received threats of sexual assault and murder because of the video.
The two have previously exchanged barbs on social media. According to The Times of Israel, Ayoub posted accusations of genocide by the State of Israel during the Gaza Strip war and mourned children killed in Gaza. In response, Shiraz referenced Ayoub’s posts and shared photos of Israeli child hostages who were kidnapped and killed by Hamas, stating, "These children are innocent."
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