North Andover, Mass approves flying Palestinian flag over town

The move comes just over a month after the Israeli flag was allowed to fly on the same pole following the Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas' massacre of civilians in the Jewish state.

According to the New York Post, the petition to see the red, green, black, and white flag raised for all to see was launched by local college student Selma Khayal on October 16.

Just hours later, the town's updated flag policy went into place, limiting the use of the flagpole to "statements of governmental speech only." Previously, anyone was able to petition officials to fly any flag, with the flagpole being considered a "public forum."

"It is the policy of North Andover (Town) that its flag poles located at the Town Common are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public," it reads, "but rather as expressions of the Town's official sentiments."

On Monday, a meeting was held at North Andover High School to discuss whether the Palestinian flag should be given the green light.

While some residents passionately defended the proposal, others criticized officials for even considering flying a flag that to many represents "hatred" and "terrorism."

"Obviously we are very disappointed with the decision," Rabbi Idan Irelander said in an interview with WCVB. "For us in the Jewish community, the Palestinian flag, unfortunately, represents Hamas. It represents hatred, terrorism, antisemitism because Hamas is the elected party."

Khayal's sister, Jenna, pushed back, arguing that, "This is a time of grief and solidarity with the Palestinian people, and it's taking back the narrative because this flag represents its people, it represents a culture. It is not a terrorist flag, and we will not let it be misconstrued that way."