A brief moment at the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, where Miss Israel and Miss Palestine stood side by side, has ignited heated debate online. A viral video clip showed Miss Israel glancing at Miss Palestine, prompting accusations from some social media users of hostility, while others defended the gesture as innocuous. Both contestants have previously criticized each other’s public statements about the ongoing conflict between their nations, with tensions spilling over into their social media posts. Despite the controversy, both women continue to participate in the pageant, though any sign of friendship between them appears unlikely.