By Tony O’Reilly-
The police will prevent the incitement of hatred at a pro Palestine protest set to take place following the arrest and subsequent bailing of a woman who expressed support for Hamas.
The escalating violence in the Middle East has seen protesters taking to the streets of Britain and around the world, with some waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans.
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On Saturday, more than 1,000 officers will be on duty to police a pro-Palestinian protest in central London on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police said it was expecting thousands of people to travel to the demonstration, which starts at 12pm and is due to finish in Whitehall at 3pm.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “People do not have the right to incite violence or hatred. The law is clear that support for proscribed organizations is illegal.
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“Anyone with a flag in support of Hamas or any other proscribed terrorist organization will be arrested. We will not tolerate the celebration of terrorism or death, or tolerate anyone inciting violence.
“We have seen behaviours this week that are unacceptable. They are hateful and there is no place for that in London.”
A 22-year-old woman from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of supporting Hamas following her participation in a protest in the city.
Hamas, an Islamist political and military organization that controls the Gaza Strip, has been proscribed as a terrorist group by numerous Western governments, including the United Kingdom.
The woman was taken into custody by Counter Terrorism Policing South East after they launched an investigation into a speech delivered during the protest in Brighton.
The demonstration took place on a Sunday, and the subsequent arrest occurred on Thursday. The woman has since been released on bail, pending further inquiries.
The woman’s arrest has been considered a necessary step to address potential threats.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has expressed her expectation that the police should “use the full force of the law” when confronting displays of support for Hamas.
The Home Secretary has the power to proscribe organizations under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Act grants the Home Secretary the authority to proscribe an organization if there is reasonable belief that it is involved in terrorism.
In the case of Hamas, the proscription is twofold. Initially, the military wing of Hamas, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades or Hamas IDQ, was proscribed by the Home Office in March 2001.
The ban on the entire organization, including its political and military wings was extended in November 2021. Consequently, supporting Hamas becomes an offense under terrorism legislation.
The controversy surrounding the arrest in Brighton prompts a deeper examination of the issues that have arisen:
The Terrorism Act 2000 empowers the Home Secretary to proscribe organizations that are deemed to be involved in terrorism.
While this tool is essential for combating extremism and protecting public safety, it also gives rise to concerns about potential misuse, politicization, or violations of civil liberties.
The protests may be a response to this.
However, civil liberties do not afford citizens the right to openly support terrorist groups.
Some have argued that the proscription of Hamas, an organization with both political and military wings, blurs the line between supporting a cause and endorsing terrorism.
But the law always has the final say on what falls under the category of terrorism.
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