TUBE CHANT STORM
Pro-Palestine protests: Fury as shock video shows marchers on the London Tube calling for an uprising against Israel
Protesters were heard singing: “Smash the Zionist settler state"
OUTRAGE was growing last night over a video showing pro-Palestine protesters on the Tube calling for intifada — an uprising against Israel.
Police launched an investigation into claims activists shouted the offensive chants in a busy carriage while on their way to a mass gathering in London yesterday.
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It came as the protests turned ugly near Piccadilly Circus, where activists making their way to a Trafalgar Square demo scuffled with police.
Social media footage shows one activist on the Tube banging a drum while another leads the chant: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.
“There is only one solution, intifada revolution.”
In another video they sing: “Smash the Zionist settler state”.
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Britain’s Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis yesterday called the term “intifada” hateful extremism as it suggests support for terror group Hamas’s crimes against Jewish civilians.
In a letter to The Times he warned against protesters who “rejoice in the massacre of innocent civilians”.
Community leaders say the “river to the sea” chant is a call for Israel, the world’s only Jewish state, to be wiped from the map.
Former Tory cabinet minister Stephen Crabb said: “These chants and slogans go way beyond the limits of what should be acceptable for any political demonstration on British streets.
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“These are outright calls for violence and killing.
“They are clearly anti-Semitic and I hope the Met will take swift action.”
Tory MP Bob Blackman said: “It’s very simple.
“They should be arrested and whatever evidence there is, it should be utilised to prosecute them.”
British Transport Police said they were aware of the footage showing chanting on a Tube train and were investigating but no arrests have been made.
A spokesman said: “Abuse, intimidation or violence, especially that which is religiously motivated, will never be tolerated and our officers will take robust action against those who seek to cause harm or spread hate.
“We have enhanced our patrols across the network and are calling for anybody who witnesses or experiences hate crime or any other threatening or concerning behaviour to report it to us so we can take immediate action.”
The chant came as protesters took to streets across the country yesterday — heightening fears further demonstrations will disrupt Remembrance events next weekend.
In London, police arrested 11 people as huge crowds gathered to demand that Israel declare a ceasefire in its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
One activist was held under the Terrorism Act for carrying a hateful placard in Piccadilly Circus.
Another was detained for breaching the Public Order Act while another was held for assaulting a police officer.
All three were taken to central London police stations.
One vile poster held up at Trafalgar Square made reference to the bulldozer that took down a fence at the Israeli border before the October 7 terrorist attacks.
Another spotted at Charing Cross station featured a Nazi swastika alongside the Israeli flag.
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An offensive leaflet that appeared to justify the actions of Hamas terrorists and describing Israel as being “humiliated” was handed out at the demonstration.
It heaped further pressure on the Metropolitan Police, who have already been heavily criticised for their handling of the protest.
Police officers were also seen standing by as another leaflet praising the terrorist group and describing it as a “resistance movement” was given out.
Tory MP Nigel Mills said: “How much more is allowed to happen before firm action is taken?
“It’s horrendous that this material is being distributed on the streets of London.”
Chants of “Gaza, stop the massacre” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” were also heard as tens of thousands of people walked towards Trafalgar Square, with some waving flares.
Last night police imposed a Section 35 Dispersal Order to get rid of protesters at Trafalgar Square they said were firing fireworks into crowds and towards officers.
Groups of protesters staged sit-ins at Oxford Circus and Piccadilly, bringing London’s busy shopping district to a standstill.
Charing Cross station was briefly closed while pro-Palestine activists occupied the busy transit hub before being moved on by police.
Planned marches next weekend threaten to disrupt Remembrance services with the PM calling them “provocative and disrespectful”.
Leaflets were distributed urging people to join a series of sit-in demonstrations at major London rail stations next Saturday, which could cause travel disruption for veterans coming to the capital to pay their respects.
Meanwhile, flags from the Cenotaph in Whitehall have been removed.
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But the Met said they were being cleaned ahead of next weekend’s Remembrance services and would be returned shortly.
- FRENCH prosecutors are investigating an alleged attempted anti-Semitic murder after a Jewish woman was stabbed in her home and a Swastika daubed on her front door in Lyon
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