Palestinian-supporting protests labeled 'not in keeping with British values' after Manchester synagogue attack, UK interior minister states

Demonstration scene Media Source

The Home Secretary voiced disappointment that Palestinian-supporting demonstrations continued on Thursday evening following the terror attack that took the lives of two men outside a Jewish place of worship in Manchester.

Britain's home secretary also called on protesters to "reconsider" from intentions to organize protests in the days ahead.

"I do think that proceeding in this fashion seems un-British, it feels inappropriate," she remarked concerning demonstrations scheduled for this week.

Demonstrators in downtown London protesting the Israeli navy intercepting a aid convoy transporting humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip confronted with police officers near Downing Street on Thursday night.

Numerous people displaying Palestinian flags and signs could be spotted on Whitehall into the evening.

The police force announced that 40 people had been taken into custody. A half-dozen of those detained were arrested for attacks against law enforcement personnel.

"It is important to draw a line between events unfolding in the Middle East and situations developing at in our country," the minister remarked on a television interview on Friday.

"I would advise to individuals who are considering to join a demonstration is to just take a step back for a short while, and consider if you had suffered the loss of a loved one to a terror attack in this country," she continued.

There were "substantial" authorities to protect the freedom to protest, she stated, but they could be superseded on the advice of the law enforcement.

"I can act based from the police, if they were to inform me there was an inability to handle and to control the demonstrations, then there are legal measures that are at my disposal," she clarified.

Community leaders express apprehensions

Britain's Chief Rabbi commented that many members of the Jewish population questioned why protests in solidarity of Palestinian advocacy groups had been allowed to proceed.

The movement was proscribed as a prohibited organization in July. At various protests since then, hundreds have been arrested for showing support for the group, which has won approval to contest the restriction.

"A portion of them contain explicit anti-Jewish sentiment, outright support for the militant group. Not all participants, however there is so much of this, which undoubtedly represents risky to many within our society," the chief rabbi remarked.

"It's impossible to disconnect the speech on our public spaces, the behavior of people in this way, and what subsequently occurs, which was the recent terror incident."

Additionally, he appealed to the government "repeatedly", to "assert authority on these protests, they are harmful."

Peggy Williams
Peggy Williams

An avid hiker and nature enthusiast with years of experience exploring trails around the world.