Green headbands resembling those worn by Hamas terrorists and sold on Etsy have been removed, MailOnline can reveal.
The striking accessory, featuring Arabic script on a green cloth, sparked outrage among Jewish groups and protesters due to its uncanny resemblance to the terrorist groups’ uniform.
Although the writing on the cloth translated to a portion of the Quran unrelated to Hamas, the headband bore a striking resemblance to those worn by militants who stormed into Israel and committed barbaric atrocities on October 7.
The item previously sold on the online marketplace for £12 and was tagged as ‘bestseller’, indicating high sales volume over the past six months.
It also received 211 five-star reviews, with customers calling it an ‘excellent product’ and ‘so beautiful’.
The product came from US-based supplier Haydar Maula, a company founded to “promote the message of Mohammed, the Islamic prophet.”
But the retail giant came under fire for allowing its sale, with Jewish groups and protesters on social media labeling it ‘scandalous’.
Green headbands resembling those worn by Hamas terrorists and sold on Etsy have been removed, MailOnline can reveal. Its translation reads: ‘Oh god, please fix the lighting for us’
A Hamas terrorist wears the iconic green headband while holding an AK-47 in Gaza City
It comes after two people were seen wearing similar headbands in London during a pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day in the wake of the October 7 terror attacks.
Several variants were sold on the online marketplace for £12 by a US-based seller called Haydar Maula, a company set up to ‘promote the message of Mohammed, the Islamic prophet’.
The website has now removed the sale of the items
About X, a user wrote: ‘Etsy, why are you selling (these) headbands on your website? Anything less than a ban is an indication of support’.
Another sarcastically said: ‘Amazing Secret Santa gifts – now on Etsy! A Hamas-style headband. Hard not to love. Shame. I don’t buy gifts here anymore.’
It comes after two people were seen wearing similar headbands in London during a pro-Palestine march on Armistice Day in the wake of the October 7 terror attacks.
The Metropolitan Police said they were looking for “two people in connection with a hate crime.”
Expressing support for Hamas, a banned terrorist organization, is a criminal offense in Britain.
In a letter to Etsy’s Chief Legal Officer Colin Stretch, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) previously asked him to confirm that these items will be withdrawn from sale.
Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, said: ‘At a time of rising anti-Semitism, it is extremely disturbing to see these Hamas-style terrorist headbands being sold openly on Etsy.
“Selling the Hamas-style headband on Etsy furthers the illegal activity of wearing Hamas military paraphernalia.
“There is no reason why these items should remain for sale on Etsy’s website as they violate (Etsy’s) own policies and selling such items and wearing the items in public may be a criminal offense.”
But the retail giant has come under fire for allowing its sale, with Jewish groups and protesters on social media branding it ‘scandalous’.
Pro-Palestinian protesters attended a rally near Downing Street last month in support of Palestine
Online giants Amazon and Etsy have already been criticized for selling ‘hate’ merchandise from Israel (pictured)
Etsy’s “Prohibited Items Policy” states that the platform has a “zero tolerance policy for prohibited items, especially items that promote, support, or glorify hatred, items that promote, support, or glorify violence, or are unlawful.”
Sellers who violate these rules may have their Etsy accounts suspended or terminated immediately.
Etsy has been contacted for comment.
It comes after online giants Amazon and Etsy were criticized for selling ‘hate’ items from Israel ahead of the Armistice Day protests.
The shopping sites sold products that “glorified hatred of Israel and the Jew,” critics warned.
T-shirts, baseball caps, sweaters and badges with the slogan “Make Israel Palestine Again” are still sold on Etsy – an e-commerce company that focuses on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies.
Meanwhile, T-shirts and sweaters with the slogan ‘From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free’ are still being promoted on Amazon.
In letters to retailers, UKFLI told Amazon that the chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is a “well-known call for the destruction of the Jewish state of Israel and has been adopted by those who support its goals.” of Hamas, to destroy Israel.”
And in a separate letter to Etsy, UKLFI said the slogan ‘Make Israel Palestine Again’ implies that ‘there should no longer be a State of Israel, which, as you are no doubt aware, is the aim of the terrorist group Hamas’.
Amazon’s policy states that products “that promote hatred, incite violence or intolerance, or advocate or discriminate against any protected group,” including “national origin,” are prohibited.
A hoodie with the slogan ‘From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free’ sold on Amazon
T-shirts, baseball caps, sweaters and badges with the slogan ‘Make Israel Palestine Again’ are sold on Etsy – an e-commerce company focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies
British lawyers for Israel say the chant ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ is a ‘well-known call for the destruction of the Jewish state of Israel’. Pictured: A protester (right) holds a sign with the slogan during a march in London last month
A spokesperson for anti-Semitism charity CST said: ‘Phrases such as ‘From the river to the sea’ and ‘Make Israel Palestine again’ are used by those calling for the elimination of the world’s only Jewish state, and we saw that in the massacre of October 7. what exactly that would look like.
“For now, such statements are not a criminal offense and this type of merchandise, which is deeply offensive and disturbing to the Jewish community, is symptomatic of that.
‘We generally have a good relationship with Amazon in Britain and they often remove anti-Semitic books, for example, at our request.
“We have strongly raised this clothing issue with them and encourage other marketplaces, such as Etsy, to do the same.”
Amazon declined to comment. Etsy did not respond to a request for comment.
