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Top UK official calls for branding Palestinian flag as ‘hate speech’
The ongoing war in Palestine has shed more light on the whitewashing of Israeli crimes by the west
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman called on 10 October for British police to deem using flags of Palestine and any chant or symbol associated with the Palestinian cause as “hate speech” that should be legally punishable.
“It is not just explicit pro-Hamas symbols and chants that are cause for concern,” the home secretary said in an instruction letter addressed to police.
“I would encourage police to consider whether chants such as: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world and whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated section 5 public order offense.”
“Context is crucial. Behaviors that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example, the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism,” she said, adding that “swift and appropriate enforcement action” must be taken against those who “drive through Jewish neighborhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public” and “aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols.”
Any demonstrations that “exacerbate community tensions by way of offensive placards, chants, or behaviors that could be construed as incitement or harassment,” the British official added.
These comments came a day after large crowds gathered outside the Israeli embassy in London to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Three people were arrested as protestors chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Israel is a terrorist state.”
Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood early on 7 October, breaching the Gaza border and taking control of several Israeli settlements. Over a hundred prisoners were taken back to the strip as missiles were launched toward occupied towns and cities, and fighters continued infiltrating settlements and clashing with Israeli troops.
Several settlers and soldiers were killed throughout the fighting, which is still ongoing.
Israel has since been launching indiscriminate strikes targeting civilian infrastructure and residential neighborhoods. All water, food, fuel, and electricity supply to Gaza has been cut off, as main border crossings have been sealed to prevent evacuations and humanitarian aid from entering the strip.
As of 11 October, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in what many call “collective punishment” and “genocide.”
International news organizations have made several unverified and false claims about the crisis.
On 10 October, media outlets were forced to retract reports that Hamas “beheaded” infants during its initial attacks on the settlements after an Israeli army spokesman said there was no evidence to back these claims.
Foreign media outlets have failed to condemn years of oppression, occupation, and ethnic cleansing committed by Israel against the Palestinians while pushing the narrative that the Hamas operation was an unwarranted “terrorist” attack on civilians.
The US and EU have offered full backing to Israel, greenlighting their plans to eradicate Gaza. The US army has deployed a massive warship to the shores of Palestine.
Tel Aviv announced on 10 October that “there will be no buildings” left in Gaza and that its troops will leave it “a city of tents.”
Over the past few days, many across the world have taken to the streets of several West Asian and European countries to show support for Palestine.
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