Sunak Denounces Anti-Semitism At Pro-Palestinian Marches

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak strongly condemned certain incidents at pro-Palestinian marches over the weekend in Britain, labeling them as "simply not acceptable." The remarks came following multiple arrests made by the police during the demonstrations. Sunak, during his visit to a Jewish school in London, emphasized the government's commitment to eradicating anti-Semitism from society. He stated, "There is no place in our society for anti-Semitism, and we will do everything we can to stamp it out. And where it happens, it will be met with the full force of the law." 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. Among those arrested, three men were subsequently charged with various offenses. Charges included racist comments, illegal knife possession, and failing to remove a face covering. The Prime Minister acknowledged the ongoing investigations into the unacceptable incidents at the marches, emphasizing the possibility of further arrests. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London and other UK cities, expressing their support for Palestinians. These protests followed a recent attack by Hamas gunmen who crossed the border from Gaza, resulting in the deadliest attack on Israel, with over 1,400 casualties and numerous hostages taken. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, initiating a relentless bombing campaign in Gaza that has led to the deaths of over 2,750 people, predominantly civilians. The UK government and British police have observed a surge in anti-Semitic crimes and incidents within the country since the Hamas attack. Sunak affirmed his commitment to ensuring the safety of the British Jewish community and warned against supporting or glorifying Hamas, a banned terrorist organization in the UK, as it could result in substantial prison sentences. He added, "It's very clear under the law: the support and glorification of Hamas is illegal, and those offenses are punishable with up to almost 14 years in jail." The Metropolitan Police clarified that general expressions of support for Palestinians, including flying the Palestinian flag, are not considered criminal offenses under UK law.