In the aftermath of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on Israeli soil, Starbucks Workers United, a labor union affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and known for its ties to prominent Democrats, sparked controversy by expressing “solidarity with Palestine” on social media. The union’s now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) featured an image of a Palestinian bulldozer tearing down the Israeli-constructed wall between Gaza and Israel, an act carried out by Hamas, an Iran-backed terror group.
Hamas’s attack on Israel resulted in over 1,200 civilian casualties, marking the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. The union’s association with the Democratic Party drew attention, given past endorsements from notable Democrats such as New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
The post’s removal followed the capture of a screenshot by The Washington Free Beacon, which reported on the union’s expression of solidarity with the group responsible for the unprecedented attack. Starbucks Workers United represents approximately 9,000 baristas and is known for its engagement in labor-related issues.
The controversy arose as support for Palestinians gained traction within the left wing of the Democratic Party and academic institutions, including Harvard, following Israel’s declaration of war on Hamas. Representatives Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Cori Bush of Missouri released statements criticizing Israel and calling for the cessation of U.S. government support for the Jewish state.
Tlaib falsely accused Israel of being an apartheid state and occupying Palestinian territory, while Bush echoed the call to end U.S. support for what she termed the “Israeli military occupation and apartheid.” Both representatives framed their statements in the context of achieving a just and lasting peace in the region.
Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro debunked the accusations against Israel during an interview with Megyn Kelly. Shapiro emphasized that Israel had unilaterally pulled out of the Gaza Strip in 2005, and the subsequent election resulted in the victory of Hamas, a designated terror group. He refuted attempts to tie the recent violence to settlements, highlighting that the attacked areas in Israel had been part of the state since 1948, well before the Six-Day War in 1967.
