Anger grew last night over a video showing pro-Palestinian subway protesters calling for an intifada — an uprising against Israel.
Police have launched an investigation into claims activists shouted abuse in a carriage on their way to a mass rally in London yesterday.
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Police made arrests as protesters took to the streets calling for a ceasefire in GazaCredit: Rex
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Video shows pro-Palestinian protesters on subway chanting ‘Smash the Zionist Settler State’Credit: Twitter
It came after protests turned ugly near Piccadilly Circus, where activists fighting their way to the Trafalgar Square protest clashed with police.
Footage on social media shows one activist banging a drum on the subway as another leads chants: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.
“There is only one solution, the intifada revolution.”
In another video they sing: “Break the state of Zionist settlers”.
Britain’s Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis yesterday called the term “intifada” hateful extremism because it suggests support for the crimes of the terrorist group Hamas against Jewish civilians.
In a letter to The Times, he warned of protesters who “look forward to the massacre of innocent civilians.”
Community leaders say the “river to sea” song is a call for Israel, the world’s only Jewish state, to be wiped off the map.
Former Tory government minister Stephen Crabb said: “These chants and slogans go way beyond what should be acceptable for any political demonstration on Britain’s streets.
“These are open calls for violence and killing.
“They are clearly anti-Semitic and I hope the Met will take swift action.”
Tory Bob Blackman said: “It’s very simple.
“They should be arrested and whatever evidence there is should be used to prosecute them.”
British Transport Police said they were aware of the footage of the singing on a tube train and were investigating, but no arrests had been made.
A spokesman said: “Abuse, intimidation or violence, particularly that which is religiously motivated, will never be tolerated and our officers will take strong action against those who seek to cause harm or spread hatred.
“We have stepped up our patrols across the network and urge anyone who witnesses or experiences hate crime or any other threatening or worrying behavior to report it to us so we can act immediately.”
The chants came as protesters took to the streets across the country yesterday – heightening fears that further demonstrations will disrupt next weekend’s commemoration events.
In London, police arrested 11 people as huge crowds gathered to demand that Israel declare a ceasefire in its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
An activist was detained under the Terrorism Act for carrying a hateful placard in Piccadilly Circus.
Another was detained for violating the Law on Public Order and Peace, while the other was detained for assaulting a police officer.
All three were taken to police stations in central London.
One disgusting poster in Trafalgar Square referred to a bulldozer that tore down the Israeli border fence before the October 7 terror attacks.
Another spotted at Charing Cross station featured a Nazi swastika alongside an Israeli flag.
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Police in the capital have been criticized for their handling of the protests as protesters handed out leaflets praising Hamas Credit: Rex
An offensive leaflet was distributed at the demonstration, justifying the actions of Hamas terrorists and describing Israel as “humiliated”.
This put additional pressure on the Metropolitan Police, who were already heavily criticized for their handling of the protest.
Officers were also seen standing next to another leaflet praising the terrorist group and describing it as a “resistance movement”.
Tory MP Nigel Mills said: “How much more can happen before strong action is taken?
“It is appalling that this material is being distributed on the streets of London.”
Chants of “Gaza, stop the massacre” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” were also heard as tens of thousands of people walked towards Trafalgar Square, with some waving torches.
Last night, police introduced a Section 35 dispersal order to deal with protesters in Trafalgar Square who they said had fired fireworks into crowds and at officers.
Groups of protesters staged protests in Oxford Circus and Piccadilly, leaving London’s busy shopping district empty.
Charing Cross station was briefly closed as pro-Palestinian activists occupied the busy transit hub before being moved on by police.
Planned marches next weekend threaten to disrupt memorial services, with the prime minister calling them “provocative and disrespectful”.
Leaflets have been handed out urging people to join a series of sit-ins at London’s main train stations next Saturday, which could cause travel disruption for veterans coming to the capital to pay their respects.
Meanwhile, the flags from the Cenotaph in Whitehall have been removed.
But the Met said they were cleaning up ahead of next weekend’s memorial service and would be back soon.
- FRENCH prosecutors are investigating an alleged anti-Semitic murder attempt after a Jewish woman was stabbed in her home and a swastika on her front door in Lyon
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Protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square while protests took place in Oxford Circus, Piccadilly and Charing Cross stationCredit: Twitter
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