The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has expressed her support for the use of “the full force of the law” by the police in response to reported celebrations of the Hamas attack on Israel in London. This comes after television presenter Rachel Riley shared a video on social media showing people waving Palestinian flags and apparently celebrating the attack. In light of these incidents, the Metropolitan Police has increased patrols to reassure communities.
As of Saturday night, the Israel Health Ministry has reported that 1,590 people have been injured in the attacks, while the Israel Defence Force claims to have “neutralized hundreds of terrorists.” World leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have condemned terrorism and called for restraint. In response to Ms. Riley’s video, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick called on the Met to intervene, describing the individuals in the video as “disgusting people” who are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas.
Scotland Yard has increased patrols to address potential conflicts in London. The Met has stated that it is aware of various incidents related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, including those shared on social media. The police force aims to provide a visible presence and reassurance to communities and is remaining in contact with partners and community leaders to address concerns. Anyone experiencing threatening behavior or safety concerns is urged to contact the police. The Met is also prepared for potential protests, aiming to balance the right to protest with minimizing disruption for Londoners.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for an “emergency” demonstration on Monday outside the Israeli Embassy. Home Secretary Suella Braverman emphasized the need for zero tolerance towards anti-semitism and the glorification of terrorism in the UK. She stated that whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and racists use it as a pretext to incite hatred against British Jews. Braverman spoke with the charity CST to ensure the government is taking necessary steps to protect Jewish communities. She expects the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas and other proscribed terrorist groups or any attempts to intimidate British Jews.