In a provocative display at Harvard University, anti-Israel protesters replaced the American flag with a Palestinian one at a prominent location traditionally reserved for the Stars and Stripes. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, saw three students hoisting the Palestinian flag over the iconic John Harvard statue, escalating tensions amid ongoing campus demonstrations.
The action coincided with a series of protests across the US in response to Israel's military actions against Hamas, sparked by the deadly October 7 attacks which resulted in over a thousand Israeli casualties.
Similar protests have been reported at other Ivy League schools and campuses nationwide, including Columbia University, a New York Post report said.
A Harvard spokesperson condemned the flag replacement, saying, “The flags raised by protesters over University Hall were removed by Harvard facilities staff. The actions are a violation of University policy and the individuals involved will be subject to disciplinary action.”
The incident has stirred significant online debate. X user Mor Hogeg criticized the protesters' motives, stating, “These pro-Hamas protesters’ sole agenda is to eradicate every western value and every basic human right while establishing an Islamic Sharia law regime. They are starting with the Jews in Israel as their main objective and will continue with the entire west. It is not a fight of Israel against Hamas – the fight is between a culture of life and a culture of death. WAKE UP!”
Another commenter, Mark Isaacson, suggested a more severe response: “This is where the National Guard needs to be called in,” highlighting a perceived lack of adequate role models among political leaders for young people.
The Harvard Crimson reported that no US flag was flying at the time of the incident, noting that the American flag is typically displayed from Monday to Friday and stored properly at other times. The university has a history of displaying flags of visiting dignitaries at the site but the Palestinian flag incident has marked a significant deviation spurred by the current geopolitical tensions.
English (US) ·