United Airlines Pilot Suspended for Praising Hamas Attackers
A United Airlines pilot has been suspended after he expressed admiration for Hamas following their surprise attack on Israel. Ibrahim R. Mossallam, in a Facebook post last month, referred to Hamas operatives as “brave people” and criticized the media for presenting a biased narrative of Palestine.
The official Twitter account of StopAntisemitism shared a screenshot of Mossallam’s October 7 Facebook post. In the post, he allegedly stated, “This is a resistance by a brave people who have endured decades of occupation, oppression, humiliation, apartheid, and straight-up murder. This was not an unprovoked attack, but a response to this past year’s attacks by the Zionist regime.”
Mossallam also urged people to expand their media literacy and do their due diligence when evaluating the actions of Hamas operatives. He provided a link to a non-Palestinian website, claiming that it contained more accurate information than what is presented by mass media.
The tweet showcasing Mossallam’s post drew outrage in the US, with many calling for United Airlines to take action against the pilot. The airline subsequently confirmed that the pilot had been suspended and would not be permitted to fly their planes for the time being.
A spokesperson for United Airlines stated, “At this time, the pilot has been removed from service but will continue to receive his salary. We are investigating the matter and his future with the company.”
The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the responsibility of individuals in positions of influence to exercise caution and avoid endorsing violence or extremist ideologies.
