Palestinian-supporting protests called 'un-British' in the wake of Manchester synagogue attack, British home secretary asserts

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The Home Secretary voiced regret that pro-Palestinian demonstrations went ahead on Thursday following the terror attack that claimed the lives of two men near a Jewish place of worship in Manchester.

Britain's top security official additionally called on protesters to "step back" from intentions to organize protests in the days ahead.

"I believe that proceeding in this manner does feel un-British, it seems inappropriate," she remarked about demonstrations arranged for this week.

Protesters in central London demonstrating against the Israel's naval forces intercepting a flotilla carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza had confrontations with law enforcement outside Downing Street on Thursday evening.

Substantial groups holding flags of Palestine and banners could be seen on the government district into the evening.

London's Metropolitan Police stated that 40 people had been taken into custody. A half-dozen of those arrested were arrested for attacks against law enforcement personnel.

"It's essential to draw a line between what is happening in the Middle East and what is happening at in our country," the home secretary stated during a television interview on Friday morning.

"I would advise to people who are considering to participate in a protest is to just take a step back for a moment, and consider if you had suffered the loss of a close relative to a terrorist incident in this nation," she emphasized.

There were "substantial" authorities to protect the right to demonstrate, she mentioned, but they could be overridden on the recommendation of the law enforcement.

"I can act based from the police, if they were to advise me there was an lack of capacity to respond and to police the demonstrations, then there are legal measures that are at my disposal," she explained.

Jewish community leaders express concerns

The UK's senior rabbinical leader stated that many people of the Jewish population asked why protests in solidarity of Palestinian causes had been allowed to proceed.

The movement was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the summer. At multiple demonstrations after that, hundreds have been taken into custody for demonstrating backing for the group, which has obtained permission to challenge the restriction.

"A portion of them include explicit anti-Jewish sentiment, outright support for Hamas. Not everyone involved, however there is so much of this, which certainly is harmful to many within our society," the religious leader declared.

"You cannot separate the rhetoric on our streets, the conduct of people in this way, and what ultimately follows, which was the recent violent act."

He also urged the administration "yet again", to "get a grip on these protests, they are risky."

Linda Clark
Linda Clark

A tech enthusiast and software developer with a passion for AI and open-source projects.