UK riots: Pro-Palestinian protesters are being emboldened on UK streets

After media channels reported that there was intelligence of 100 ‘far-right’ and anti-immigration protests planned for Wednesday, many towns and cities were relieved that none materialised and that there were no instances of the appalling violence experienced in the days prior. Instead, cameras rolled showing several well-prepared and coordinated ‘counter-protests’, lauded as the public’s peaceful answer to the far-right, but which were largely made up of pro-Palestinian Muslim protesters and ‘far-left’ socialist groups calling for ‘Free Palestine’. In one of the counter-protests on Wednesday, a Labour councillor was filmed yelling to the crowd that the far-right are “disgusting Nazi fascists and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all,” before leading the crowd to chant ‘Free Palestine’. He has been suspended by Labour and arrested by police.

The day before, a clearly-shaken Sky News reporter in Birmingham was harassed live on air by balaclava-wearing protesters yelling ‘Free Palestine’.

Meanwhile, other footage is circulating showing Muslim gangs in Birmingham armed with weapons and Palestinian flags seeking to confront protests. In one scene, a man standing by himself outside a pub was beaten by pro-Palestinian protesters and kicked whilst on the floor.

Since 7^th October, pro-Palestinian groups have demonstrated on the streets of London and other cities demonstrating support for Hamas, an outlawed terror group in Britain, and calling for Israel to be driven into the sea. Even last Saturday, on the same day as anti-immigration protests clashed with police outside Downing Street, a pro-Palestinian march took place with signs calling for an intifada against Jews.

This hate against Israel and the Jews should be a concern to everyone, and it is right to demand that the authorities show the same repelling force and prosecution as that used against all other forms of violence.

The government has been accused of ‘two-tier’ policing. The leniency shown towards Hamas-supporting pro-Palestinian protesters over the past 10 months, and before, has been shameful and certainly supports this accusation. Whilst we can hope that this will change, the pro-Palestinian movement itself has been emboldened this week. Firstly, by the media-driven optics of ‘peaceful’ counter-protests, which are fuelled by a hate for Britain and for Israel. And secondly, how pro-Palestinian violent disorder is portrayed as a legitimate means of restoring order.

As Christians, it is important that we recognise that this is also a spiritual conflict between light and darkness. Fear, anger and misplaced justice are all being weaponised by Satan to lure some Christians into compromise or confusion. It is important that Christians are not given into supporting violence or hatred of any kind, but it is essential that we stand firm in speaking truth and proclaiming righteousness. There is an antisemitic spirit that has taken hold of this nation that is manifesting itself in opposition to Israel and in opposition to our Judeo-Christian values. And it is set to get a lot worse unless our country seeks the God of Israel and repents. Let us hold onto the Word of God which states in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” May we continue to stand with Israel and not waver from praying that our nation will return to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.