The Hoboken Girl Team 
Hoboken officials have shared statements over a decision to raise the Palestinian flag at City Hall on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, and then removing it less than 24 hours later. The move sparked praise and criticism from some residents and elected officials, drawing local and national coverage.
Context and Background
Flags representing different cultural, national, and community groups are frequently flown at municipal buildings around the country, including Hoboken City Hall, as part of heritage celebrations and awareness events. Local officials have previously participated in flag‑raising events for a range of communities under this general practice.
The Palestinian flag was raised outside Hoboken City Hall on Tuesday, December 9. Some residents quickly noted that the date coincided with December 9, 1987, recognized as the start of the First Intifada, a multi‑year Palestinian uprising in the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict, which led to casualties on both sides.
Mayor Ravi Bhalla shared a statement on his social media, explaining that the event was intended as “an acknowledgment of [Hoboken’s] Palestinian neighbors” and part of the city’s broader efforts to “celebrate diversity.” About the significance of the date, Mayor Bhalla said: “I want to state unequivocally that this association was not known when scheduling was approved. I understand that this coincidence has caused concern for some members of our community.”
View this post on Instagram
Mayor‑elect Emily Jabbour also issued a statement, saying, “An official flag raising in front of City Hall is supposed to be welcoming and celebratory, with the hopes that people see themselves and the community in it. However, today, we are seeing first-hand the repercussions of decisions made without a larger community conversation, and without any engagement with myself or my council colleagues.” Her comments suggested the need for a clearer, more transparent process for deciding which flags are raised and when.
View this post on Instagram
Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher also made a statement on Facebook, calling for a more formal policy to guide future flag‑raising events at City Hall. In a public post, she wrote that any such events should involve the City Council.
Reactions to the December 9 flag‑raising appeared along several lines:
- Some Jewish and Israeli residents, as well as pro‑Israel supporters, viewed raising the Palestinian flag on the anniversary of the First Intifada as insensitive or inflammatory, given the conflict’s history and recent violence in the region.
- Some Palestinian and pro‑Palestinian residents and supporters saw the flag as overdue recognition of their community and argued that municipal spaces should acknowledge all of Hoboken’s residents.
- The controversy made local and national news outlets, including coverage from NJ.com and ABC News.
The controversy spread quickly through local email lists, neighborhood chats, and social media, with posts circulating both within Hoboken and among regional and national accounts focusing on Middle East issues. City officials removed the flag within roughly a day, which satisfied some critics but frustrated others who felt the city was backtracking under pressure.
City Hall Indicates Flag Raising Process to Be Revisited
At the center of the controversy is the city’s process for approving flag‑raising events at City Hall. City Officials, including Jabbour and Fisher, say the current approach does not consistently involve the City Council and have called to revisit the process in the new year. Supporters of a more open policy argue that City Hall should remain a place where different communities can be recognized, so long as events are handled transparently and respectfully. City officials have indicated that the flag‑raising policy is likely to be revisited in the coming months.
