Lately, there have been disturbing incidents involving airlines. In a recent Delta flight from Boston to West Palm Beach, passengers experienced severe turbulence. However, the cause was not a Boeing safety issue but rather a flight attendant wearing a small Palestine flag pin on his uniform.
It is astonishing that, amidst Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, someone would show solidarity with a population under attack. Shockingly, this expression of support led to backlash and pressure on Delta to dismiss the employee. A tweet from a passenger suggested seeing workers with “Hamas badges,” mistaking the Palestine flag for one.
Responding to the backlash, Delta’s official Twitter account expressed agreement with the fear, calling the flag terrifying. This incident is not isolated; Delta has faced criticism for silencing pro-Palestinian messages before.
While the tweet was later deleted, Delta’s response lacked a substantial apology. The incident is part of a disturbing trend of anti-Palestinian sentiment in the US.
Although the flight attendants were not fired for wearing the pins, labeling the incident as an “error” diminishes its significance. The escalation in Israel’s actions and the struggle for Palestinian rights cannot be minimized to a mere mistake.
The ongoing crisis in Gaza, with its potential long-term implications, demands attention. The current situation underscores the dehumanization and erasure of Palestinians, revealing a disturbing reality that should evoke genuine concern.
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Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist
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