Threats to kidnap Gulf nationals in Lebanon spark hot debate on Twitter

The flow of Arab tourists visiting Lebanon all but dried up following the latest abductions and the Gulf countries’ call for all their citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately.   

In this regard, threats to kidnap Gulf nationals in Lebanon were met with threats to expel Lebanese nationals from the Gulf. This open threat exchange sparked a hot debate on Twitter where users created a new Hashtag in Arabic “أخرجوا اللبنانيين من جزيرة العرب” or “Expel the Lebanese from the Arab Peninsula”.   

Gulf tweeters were divided between those who supported the idea, writing tweets that are offensive to the Lebanese and urging them to leave, and others who said the hashtag was “retarded and does not express their opinion”. The latters rejected the idea of expulsing Lebanese nationals from the Gulf, and considered that it is unfair to put all the Lebanese in one basket.      

On the other hand, Lebanese tweeters did not keep silent. They responded by creating a hashtag “أخرجوا العرب من لبنان” or “Expel Arabs from Lebanon”. Despite the fact that it did not trend, many tweets were written mocking Gulf nationals and calling for their expulsion from Lebanon. 


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