State of the Union 2024: ‘Squad’ members don Palestinian keffiyehs for speech – Washington Examiner

Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Cori Bush (D-MO), and Summer Lee (D-PA) donned Palestinian keffiyehs for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

Photos showed the three progressive House “Squad” members donning the scarves as a symbolic act. The keffiyeh has served as the symbol of Palestinian nationalism and resistance to Israel, making it controversial.

Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) dons a scarf as Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), top, looks on before President Joe Biden arrives to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The white scarf is covered mostly in a fishing net design, representing one of the main livelihoods of Palestinians before 1948.

Many Israelis and Jews find the garb offensive, largely due to its adoption by several Palestinian militant groups, such as Hamas and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

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The Squad has expressed harsh criticism against Biden over his stance on the war in Gaza. Several have accused the president of facilitating a genocide against Palestinians and threatened to withdraw their support in November if he doesn’t change course.

Bush was among several Squad members who said earlier on Thursday that Biden was not doing enough to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians.