A silent response from a Saudi tweeter turned into wide discussion on social media platforms after he merely posted a picture of a cup of Saudi coffee filled to the brim, in reply to a tweet from an Israeli who praised Saudi coffee and invited others to try it.
The incident followed an emergency landing of a Fly Dubai plane that was headed from Dubai to Tel Aviv at the Saudi airport in Tabuk.
After the incident, Israeli Avi Kaner tweeted on the platform X, describing Saudi coffee as "the best ever," and a Saudi user named "Fahad" responded with just one image, without any comment.
The image garnered over 19 million views, amidst a wide range of interactions from users who associated its meaning with coffee-serving customs in Saudi society.
A cup of Arabic coffee is typically served in small quantities, with the option to refill it for the guest as a sign of welcome and hospitality. However, filling the cup completely is traditionally seen as a sign that the guest is not welcome and should leave.
Users shared the image as a symbolic response relying on a local cultural implication, which led to its widespread spread without the need to add any words.