The mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, has apologized for raising the Palestinian flag at City Hall on the anniversary of the first Palestinian intifada, stating the timing was accidental. The flag was displayed following requests from Palestinian residents and was intended as a gesture of cultural recognition, not a political statement. Mayor Ravinder S. Bhalla emphasized that the city routinely honors various communities by raising their flags, but acknowledged concerns after learning of the date's historical significance. The flag has since been removed, and the incident has sparked criticism from local officials who said they were not consulted about the decision.