Journalist Leyla Hamed forced to cover "Palestine" outfit at Abu Dhabi airport

In a disturbing incident, a journalist Leyla Hamed was compelled to cover her "Palestine" t-shirt at Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport due to concerns it might make passengers feel "uncomfortable."

In a series of tweets, Hamed recounted the experience she endured at an airport in a Muslim country.

"I was approached by an employee accompanied by military men 4 times after I went through security control for 'random checks'. In the end, they 'asked' me to either remove or cover my Palestine t-shirt."

According to the renowned journalist, the logo printed on her t-shirt read Palestine and it was not allowed at the airport.

The airport staffer told Leyla that the word could make other passengers feel 'uncomfortable'."

Hamed noted that she wears Palestine t-shirts while traveling and had no issues in South Korea and Japan. However, Abu Dhabi proved different for her.

At Zayed International airport in Abu Dhabi: I was approached by an employee accompanied by military men 4 times after I went through security control for “random checks”.

In the end, they “asked” me to either remove or cover my Palestina FC t-shirt. pic.twitter.com/nkNpYqaBIZ

— leylahamed.bsky.social (@leylahamed) September 26, 2024

As I went through the airport, employees at security control and staff at stores greeted me for my Palestina t-shirt.

But apparently, the Zayed International airport management are not very pro-Palestinian. Shame on them.

— leylahamed.bsky.social (@leylahamed) September 26, 2024

Oh, more about my awful experience in Abu Dhabi:

As I walked to my gate before departing, my boarding pass wouldn’t work at Etihad’s desk. They had to call a supervisor to do another “random check”.

They were ready to not let me fly unless I removed my Palestine top. Wow.

— leylahamed.bsky.social (@leylahamed) September 26, 2024

"Those who know me know I always wear Palestine t-shirts when I’m traveling. They have become my airport outfit. I just came back from South Korea and Japan. No problems at all — quite the opposite."

The mediawoman said that even she was approached by a Korean photographer to click a picture in Palestine outfit.

Oh, more about my awful experience in Abu Dhabi: As I walked to my gate before departing, my boarding pass wouldn’t work at Etihad’s desk. They had to call a supervisor to do another “random check”. They were ready to not let me fly unless I removed my Palestine top. Wow," she wrote in another post.

There has been a worldwide public outrage against Israel for committing war crimes in Gaza for almost 10 months.

The incident coincided with global condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, where over 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including 16,456 children and 11,000 women. 

Israeli military offensives have also left almost 95,497 people injured, and two-thirds of buildings across the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed. 

Furthermore, Israeli attacks have killed at least 270 aid workers.

The restrictions on food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies have exacerbated the situation in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) directed Israel to ensure basic services and humanitarian aid delivery in the besieged enclave.

The Palestinian government's information office reported that almost 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced due to relentless air and artillery strikes by the Israeli military.

Thousands of children in Gaza have been diagnosed with malnutrition, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Earlier, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) head Cindy McCain said people in Gaza are starving to death.

The WFP estimated that around 1.1 million people are "struggling with catastrophic hunger and starvation" due to Israel's severe restrictions on food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies to the besieged enclave.

Israel's expansion of military actions to Lebanon has claimed over 700 lives, prompting international calls for a ceasefire. 

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a temporary ceasefire.