The Emmys are often a platform for political statements, but actress Hannah Einbinder’s remarks took an unexpected turn when they caught the attention of Hamas. During her acceptance speech for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Einbinder criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Trump administration’s support for Israel’s military actions.
Einbinder, 30, expressed her views with the phrase “F**k ICE and free Palestine,” which was later highlighted by the pro-Hamas Quds News Network. The network noted her comments on social media but deleted the post soon after.
Despite the removal, screenshots circulated, prompting ridicule of the network for censoring Einbinder’s attire while she showcased her look on the red carpet. Since 2007, Hamas has enforced strict dress codes for women in Gaza, drawing condemnation from international human rights organizations.
Critics, including pro-Israel advocates, accused Einbinder of inadvertently supporting Hamas’s oppressive policies towards women. Israeli writer Hen Mazzig remarked, “When celebrities make it trendy to vilify Israel, it fuels the climate that leads to Jewish schools under police guard, synagogues set on fire, and children beaten on their way to class.” He also suggested that true bravery would have been to call for the release of hostages in Gaza.
Palestinian Christian Ihab Hassan criticized the Quds Network for its actions, labeling it a “complete joke.” Following her speech, Einbinder emphasized her intent to “distinguish Jews from the state of Israel,” stating, “I feel it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the State of Israel, because our religion and our culture is such an important and long-standing institution that is really separate from this sort of ethno-nationalist state.”
