actress Debra Winger We recently spoke about her motivation when she joined in to protest her detention. Mahmoud Khalila pro-Palestinian activist.
Winger said she felt she had “debts to pay” in terms of Jewish upbringing aspects, and explained that she was “raised on a lot of things that were not true.”
Khalil’s bust has been accused of supporting terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah in reports that he is the leader of the apartheid Divest group of group Columbia United.
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Debra Winger says she has more “debts to pay” than Jewish upbringing
American actress Debra Winger joined protesters at Trump Tower in New York City, demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil, saying she had owed and had to pay. pic.twitter.com/jggih4j6jg
– quds news network (@qudsnen) March 14, 2025
The Oscar-nominated actress Winger appears to be unhappy with the way she was raised as a child.
Last week, Winger protested the arrest of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil outside the Tower of President Donald Trump in New York City, and rang out about his “debt to pay” for Jewish development.
Halil, a 30-year-old Columbia University graduate, was arrested by US immigrants on March 8th and faced deportation for his role in the anti-Israel protests that occurred in Colombia last year.
“I was raised Jews. I was raised on a lot of things that are not true,” she said. Al Jazera During the protest, Per New York Post. “I was raised with a lot of things that weren’t true. It took me years because I had to learn them.”
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The “Shadowlands” actress cited an example of her dissatisfaction with her early days, explaining that she opposed the idea that Israel was a Jewish home.
“I have debts to pay. I have debts to what I grew up with. I believed in what the Israeli state did, what they weren’t doing, and how they blended Judaism and Zionism,” Winger said of his pro-Israel supporters.
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Debra’s winger calls Mahmoud Khalil a “political prisoner.”

Shortly after his arrest, Halil was immediately transferred to a Louisiana immigration detention center, but has yet to be charged with a crime.
His arrest is what Trump called the first “of many people” for students engaged in “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitism, anti-American activities.”
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the situation, Winger accused President Trump of running a fascist administration and called Halil a “political prisoner.”
“(Halil) has been illegally accused of eight months of pregnant wife from his home and taken to a private place. Does that sound like America?” she said.
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“They are coming for students first. They come to the university and try to take over the university. Read some history. All fascist governments have done this,” Winger added. “They start with educators and students because that’s where it’s a strong movement.”
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Mahmoud Khalil is accused of ties with terrorist groups

A Syrian-born green card holder, Halil is said to be the leader of Colombia United Apartheid. The group has been accused of supporting Hamas and Hezbollah and distributing propaganda.
The legality of his deportation is still contested in court, but Halil quickly became a poster boy for President Trump’s crackdown on anti-Semitic university protesters.
Columbia University activists said hundreds of anti-Israeli protesters marched from Manhattan’s Times Square to Manhattan’s Columbus Circle on Saturday to demand his freedom, many of whom were engaged in fiercely verbal standoffs with police officers.
“Get the F-CK from Palestine,” shouted one of the protesters. New York Post. “Does this look like America to anyone? Is this an F-CK?” Israeli supporters responded, referring to the pro-Palestinian crowds.
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Mahmoud Khalil’s former classmate claims he was full of Israeli rage.
Meanwhile, one of Halil’s former classmates revealed his experience dealing with him while studying at Columbia University.
A former classmate, a Jewish female graduate student, New York Post He is said to be a “insid” figure in school and was full of rage towards the Jewish state.
She explained that she had to drop a course she filmed together at Colombia’s International Public Service School last fall.
She filed a formal complaint with the university, but she appeared deaf.
Mahmoud Khalil’s former rank mate says it would have been easy if he were a “terrifying looking guy.”

In a chat with the news outlet, Halil’s former classmate spoke about his attitude, noting that he has a threatless presence.
“If he was a scary-looking guy who threatened to slap people in the face, that would almost be easy,” he said. “He was spoken very softly and cautious about his words. It was so intentional that he seemed more insidious. He was very clear because he never exaggerated. He wasn’t kidding me.”
“You know, he’s wearing a Polos,” she continued. “I’m not afraid you’ll meet him and he’ll beat you. For me, he was scared in a very extreme and unshakable way with his worldview, which is in my opinion a very scary worldview.”