🇺🇸 US School Expels Palestinian Student Jad Abu Hamada Following Mother’s Pro-Palestinian Social Media Posts

Last Updated on July 20, 2024

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – In a controversial move, a 15-year-old Palestinian student, Jad Abu Hamada, was expelled from Pine Crest School on November 19 after his mother, Dr. Maha Almasri, expressed support for the Gaza Strip on social media. The posts condemned what she described as Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, ongoing since October 7.

The school administration justified the expulsion, citing Almasri’s social media content as “hateful and incendiary.” Dr. Almasri contested this characterization, asserting that her posts were intended to highlight the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza rather than promote hatred.

Jad, currently in 10th grade, has been unable to attend classes since the expulsion, disrupting his studies and college preparation. His mother, in an interview with CNN, expressed the need to find an alternative school for her son.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on the US Department of Education to investigate Abu Hamada’s expulsion. The incident follows a series of protests across the United States in recent weeks, with demonstrators expressing solidarity with Gaza and calling for a ceasefire.

Notably, members of President Joe Biden’s administration participated in a protest outside the White House, urging a reevaluation of US support for Israel. The rally emphasized the importance of heeding calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The expulsion of Abu Hamada comes in the wake of other incidents targeting individuals of Palestinian origin in the US. In Vermont, three students faced an armed attack related to their solidarity with Gaza, while in Illinois, a fanatic assailant stabbed a Palestinian child 26 times on October 16, chanting anti-Palestinian phrases. These events occurred amid a backdrop of heightened tensions and a perceived pro-Israel stance by President Joe Biden during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.