BREINIGSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA (VINnews) — A former Burger King employee who was fired after telling an Israeli-American customer “Free Palestine” has raised nearly $250,000 through an online fundraiser and has been honored with a mural painted by artists in Gaza.

Arianna Hamilton, who worked at a Burger King location in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, was dismissed earlier this month following a viral video of an interaction with customer Rami Feinstein, an Israeli-American musician. According to accounts of the exchange, Feinstein identified himself as Israeli after initially saying he was from New Jersey, prompting Hamilton to respond with the phrase “Free Palestine.”

Burger King confirmed the employee was terminated. Hamilton later posted a video defending her actions, saying she was exercising free speech and not intending to discriminate or spread hate. She stated her goal was to highlight the situation in Gaza.

Hamilton launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Support Arianna After Job Loss for Free Speech.” The fundraiser initially sought $140,000 to cover living expenses such as rent, utilities and groceries while she looked for new work. After surpassing that goal, the target was raised to $250,000. As of recent updates, the campaign had raised more than $240,000 from thousands of donors. Hamilton has said any surplus after covering her basic needs would go to families in Palestine.

In a further development, artists in Gaza created a mural depicting Hamilton in her Burger King uniform and headset, alongside a crossed-out Burger King logo and the words “Free Palestine.” Videos of the mural circulated widely on social media, with posts describing it as a show of solidarity.

The incident and subsequent fundraising have drawn strong reactions on both sides. Supporters praised Hamilton for speaking out, while critics called the workplace remark inappropriate and questioned the scale of the donations relative to a fast-food job loss.

Hamilton has not publicly detailed her next employment plans. Burger King has not issued further statements beyond confirming the termination.