The war between Israel and Hamas continues to spark debate in the United States and other countries as people express their opinions on the conflict. In New Jersey, a billboard denouncing Hamas was taken down.

The sign, which was put up by a Jewish organization named JewBelong, was removed after law enforcement received over 100 complaints. Situated on Route 80 in Bergen County, the billboard's message did not mince words: “Oh, don’t be naïve. Hamas would chop your head off too.”

This anti-Hamas billboard on Route 80 in Bogota Borough resulted in more than 100 calls to police before it was taken down by organizers, authorities say. pic.twitter.com/7DoUMColJl

— Shlomo Schorr (@OneJerseySchorr) October 19, 2023

The message was a reference to news reports revealing that Hamas, when it launched its initial surprise attack on October 7, beheaded Israeli babies. It was a shocking act of brutality that elicited outrage across the world.

Bogota police explained that there were no criminal violations associated with the billboard. It is also worth noting that law enforcement likely had no legal authority to take it down since it was erected on private property. JewBelong has similar billboards across the country.

Bogota police said they were aware of the sign, but that there have been no criminal violations as a result, NJ Advance Media reported.

“Our police department works closely with county, state and federal agencies to ensure the safety of our community,” the department said on Facebook, noting it had no control over the sign because it was private property. “There have been no threats to our community and we are investigating the matter to ensure all community members remain safe.”

So, here’s the obvious question: If the billboard had carried a message critical of Israel, would it have been removed? It seems likely that it would have remained precisely where it was – even if there were complaints.

To be fair, the complaints could have arisen due to the graphic nature of the message about beheading. Still, the words on the billboard point to an ugly reality. Indeed, the brutality Hamas has shown since its inception is well-documented. The constant rocket attacks and deliberate attacks on noncombatants don’t exactly put them in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize, do they?

We only need to look at some of the incidents that occurred in European nations since the war started to see how vicious these people are. On Saturday, I wrote about a terrorist attack carried out by an asylum seeker in the United Kingdom. While details are sparse due to law enforcement not publicizing the details, this highlights the effects of the war on other countries.

Even before this incident, a terrorist in France murdered a teacher by stabbing her to death while yelling “Allahu akbar!” A Jewish person was also attacked in China but survived.

While the tone of the billboard may have been harsh, it is possible that removing it runs afoul of the First Amendment, especially since it was placed on private property. Yes, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is a hot-button issue – especially over the past two weeks. But expressing one’s opinion on the matter shouldn’t be met with government scrutiny.