The House of Commons home affairs committee has heard evidence from Jewish leaders and pro-Palestinian march organisers about how the protests were policed.
The Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 and the subsequent upsurge in anti-Semitism has had an “absolutely profound” effect on Britain’s Jewish community, MPs have been told.
Dave Rich, the director of policy at the Community Security Trust (CST), told the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee the “absolutely horrific” attacks by Hamas, that killed 1,200 people had, “sent shockwaves through the Jewish community” in Britain and around the world.
Mr. Rich described British Jews at the time as a, “completely traumatised and grief-stricken community,” and he said they were shocked to see “pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstrations starting in towns and cities around the country … while that terrorist attack was still going on.”
He went on to say: “The first demonstration in London was called to be held outside the Israeli Embassy on Monday (Oct. 9), and these protests were organised in language that seemed to welcome and endorse what Hamas had done. Speeches were given that celebrated it.”
Mr. Rich said a demonstration in…
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