In a recent controversy, a Delta employee has been removed from their position with the airline's social media channels after the company faced intense backlash over a post that was perceived as anti-Palestinian. The post, which sparked outrage, falsely equated the Palestinian flag to the flag of the militant group Hamas.

Delta issued a statement apologizing for the post, stating that it "was not in line with our values and our mission to connect the world." The airline also confirmed that the team member responsible for the post has been counseled and no longer supports Delta's social channels.

The controversy began when an account, whose identity remains unclear, reposted pictures of two Delta flight attendants wearing Palestinian flag pins on their uniforms. In response, the official Delta account replied, expressing understanding and concern, stating, "Our employees reflect our culture and we do not take it lightly when our policy is not being followed." This comment drew swift criticism from Delta employees as well as leaders in Palestinian and Muslim communities.

Azka Mahmood, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Georgia, criticized the post, stating that equating the Palestinian national symbol with Hamas "erases the existence and legitimacy of the entirety of Palestine." She emphasized that the Palestinian flag represents the national aspirations of millions of Palestinians and condemned the attempt to delegitimize it.

While the two flight attendants pictured were found to be compliant with Delta's current uniform guidelines, the airline announced that, starting Monday, only US flag pins would be allowed to be worn. This change marks a departure from previous policies that allowed pins representing countries and nationalities from around the world.

Mahmood expressed concern over the uniform policy change, arguing that it limits employees' freedom of expression. She pointed out that in the past, Delta flight attendants were able to wear pins showing solidarity with other countries without any issue, highlighting the inconsistency in Delta's approach.

In response to the incident, a group of Delta employees working to unionize sent an open letter demanding a public apology for the post. They emphasized the importance of celebrating diversity and allowing employees to express their pride and support for their heritage without facing discrimination.

Civil rights activist Omar Suleiman, who has a substantial social media following, called for a boycott of Delta in light of the controversy. Meanwhile, CAIR reported receiving the highest number of complaints of anti-Muslim bias in 2023, with a significant increase following the Hamas attack on Israel.

The true extent of anti-Muslim activity in the US may be underrepresented, according to Mahmood, due to the lack of knowledge on how to report incidents, as well as some individuals accepting such behavior as part of life in the country.

Delta's response to the backlash is being closely watched, as critics argue that the airline should uphold the rights of its employees to free speech and expression rather than giving in to external pressure.