London, October 16, 2023 – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has strongly condemned recent incidents at pro-Palestinian marches in the United Kingdom as “simply not acceptable.” He made this statement following multiple arrests made by the police during these protests.
During a visit to a Jewish school in London, Prime Minister Sunak declared, “There is no place in our society for anti-Semitism, and we will do everything we can to stamp it out. And where it happens, it will be met with the full force of the law.”
The London Metropolitan Police announced on Sunday evening that 15 individuals were arrested during Saturday’s pro-Palestinian demonstration in the center of the British capital. Subsequently, three men were charged with various offenses, including a 68-year-old man suspected of making racist comments. The other two were charged with illegal knife possession and failing to remove a face covering.
Prime Minister Sunak added, “They’ve made several arrests, but they’re also now reviewing footage of some of the things that many people would have seen that are just simply not acceptable, and where they can, they will be able to make further arrests.”
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people gathered in London and other cities across the UK in support of Palestinians, a week after Hamas militants carried out a deadly attack on Israel after crossing the border from Gaza. The attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 people and the taking of hostages.
Following the Hamas attack, Israel declared war on the militant group, initiating a relentless bombing campaign in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,750 people, primarily civilians, and the destruction of numerous neighborhoods.
The UK government and British police have reported a notable increase in anti-Semitic crimes and incidents in Britain since the Hamas attack.
Prime Minister Sunak reassured members of Britain’s Jewish community that the government would do “everything in our power to keep them safe.” He also issued a stern warning that praising Hamas, a banned terrorist organization in the UK, could lead to lengthy prison sentences.
“It’s very clear under the law: the support and glorification of Hamas is illegal, and those offenses are punishable with up to almost 14 years in jail,” he stated in an interview with British broadcasters.
It is important to note that the Metropolitan Police clarified that while supporting Hamas is considered a crime, general expressions of support for Palestinians, including flying the Palestinian flag, are not criminal offenses under UK law.