The Noguchi Museum in New York City terminated the employment of three staff members for wearing keffiyehs, Reuters reported.

The museum, established by the Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, implemented the new dress code last month, citing the need to maintain a neutral environment for its diverse visitors. 

The museum published a statement that read, "While we understand that the intention behind wearing this garment was to express personal views, we recognize that such expressions can unintentionally alienate segments of our diverse visitorship."

The keffiyeh gained prominence in recent global protests advocating for Palestinian rights, especially in response to the Israeli Occupation aggression in Gaza. 

One of the fired employees, Natalie Cappellini, voiced her discontent on Instagram, accusing the museum of misusing the term "political" to suppress support for the Palestinian cause. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Natalie Cappellini she/her (@natcap_)

The controversy surrounding the keffiyeh is part of a broader context in the US, where expressions of solidarity with Palestinians have led to job losses. 

In May, a Palestinian-American nurse was fired from a New York City hospital after calling “Israel’s” actions in Gaza a genocide during an acceptance speech.