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UK minister: Pro-Palestinian 'from the river to the sea' chanters could face prosecution

Friday, 28 January 2022 11:07 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 28 January 2022 11:07 AM ]

Protesters hold a map along with Palestinian flags and placards during a demonstration on Whitehall opposite Downing Street in central London on April 7, 2018 (file photo by AFP)

A British minister has threatened pro-Palestinian protesters and activists with prosecution and warned that those chanting slogans in support of Gaza-based resistance groups could face legal action.

In yet another anti-Palestine move by the West, UK Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said protesters chanting the pro-Palestinian slogan "From the river to sea, Palestine will be free" should be referred to the police.

Zahawi claimed that the slogan, the wording of which refers to the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, was an indication of “anti-Semitism”.

He said it was essential for university campuses to crack down on pro-Palestinian activists as those using the chant were implicitly supporting Palestinian resistance groups, particularly Hamas.

‘From the river to the sea’: Rallying for the liberation of al-Quds

Quds Day has over the years become synonymous with affirmation of solidarity with the oppressed and subjugated people of Palestine in their struggle for the liberation of the third holiest sanctuary for Muslims.

"Any form of anti-Semitism or prejudice promoting the murder of Jewish people is in my book anti-Semitic and therefore you should act on that," he said. "This is a proscribed organization and they should be reported to the police."

Palestinians have invariably acknowledged that the slogan shows their desire for the establishment of a democratic state in historic Palestine, the liberation of al-Quds and the return of all Palestinians to their homeland.

In November last year, the British government blacklisted the political wing of Hamas, joining the United States, Canada and the European Union in fully banning the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance group, which provides a tremendous amount of defense for the Palestinian rights against frequent Israeli acts of aggression.

Hamas says will take legal action against UK blacklisting of movement

Hamas says it will take legal action against the UK’s move in proscribing the resistance movement.

London had already banned the group’s military wing, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, across the UK. The move to proscribe Hamas means its members or those who invite support for the resistance group could be jailed for up to 14 years.

Last May, at least 260 Palestinians, including 66 children, were killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza-based resistance movements responded by launching over 4,000 rockets into the occupied territories, some reaching as far as Tel Aviv and even Haifa and Nazareth to the north.

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