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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak strongly condemned the recent incidents at pro-Palestinian marches in Britain over the weekend, deeming them “completely unacceptable” following the subsequent arrests made by the police.
“Antisemitism has no place in our society, and we are committed to eradicating it. When it does occur, we will respond with the full force of the law,” Sunak stated during his visit to a Jewish school in London.
On Sunday evening, London’s Metropolitan Police announced that they had arrested 15 individuals during the pro-Palestinian protest in the heart of the British capital on Saturday. Of these, three men were charged with various offenses. One of them, a 68-year-old man, was suspected of making racist remarks. The other two were charged with illegal possession of knives and failing to remove face coverings.
Sunak added, “The authorities have not only made several arrests, but they are also examining the footage of incidents that many witnessed and found completely unacceptable. They will make further arrests wherever possible.”
Tens of thousands of people across the UK demonstrated in support of Palestinians on Saturday, a week after a significant attack by Hamas militants on Israel, resulting in significant casualties. The UK government and British police have reported a surge in antisemitic crimes and incidents since the Hamas attack.
Sunak reassured members of the Jewish community that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure their safety. He also warned that praising Hamas, a banned terrorist organization in the UK, could lead to lengthy prison sentences.
“The law is unequivocal: supporting or glorifying Hamas is illegal, and these offenses carry penalties of up to nearly 14 years in prison,” he conveyed to British broadcasters.
The Metropolitan Police clarified last week that while supporting Hamas is a criminal act, general expressions of support for Palestinians, such as displaying the Palestinian flag, are not considered criminal offenses under the law.
