UK threatens to expel expats who support the Palestinian resistance
3 Min Read
The immigration minister is looking to expel foreign workers and students who are standing in solidarity with Palestine, under the pretext of anti-semitism.
-
In this file photo dated Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, Britain's Secretary of State for Housing Robert Jenrick arrives for a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London. (AP)
The UK Home Office is developing plans that could result in the expulsion of foreign students, academics, and workers for either expressing support for the Palestinian resistance faction Hamas or criticizing the ongoing Israeli aggression on Palestine.
Robert Jenrick, the Immigration Minister, has tasked department officials with assessing visa revocation based on national security concerns and the presence of evidence indicating discrimination or support for the terror group in the aftermath of its activities in "Israel".
This initiative echoes a similar policy enacted in France by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who mandated the immediate expulsion of foreigners who condemned the Israeli aggression, under the pretext of anti-semitism, leading to three individuals being expelled from the country.
Read next: UK government to introduce bill banning boycotts of Israeli goods
In the UK, visas for foreign students, workers, and visitors can be revoked on national security grounds or if it is deemed to be in the "public interest."
Additionally, university vice-chancellors have already cautioned students about the possibility of facing criminal investigations if they express support for the Hamas resistance in the wake of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Some students have reportedly been reported to the police for showing support for Hamas at certain universities on social media following the operation.
University College London confirmed that it was conducting an investigation into an academic who reposted a comment on October 7, claiming that Palestinian "retaliation" was "entirely justifiable."
‘Basic norms of conduct’
A Home Office source told The Telegraph: “We’ve seen some sickening displays of anti-Semitism and glorification for the terrorism of Hamas."
This statement comes after Suella Braverman, the British Home Secretary, told police officers that chanting pro-freedom chants and waving Palestinian flags may be a "criminal offense".
#UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman seems to be threatened by the existence of the #Palestinian flag.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 11, 2023
Braverman wrote a letter to chief constables in #England and #Wales, urging them to clamp down on any attempts to wave Palestinian flags and voice chants and songs.… pic.twitter.com/lMR0LNd1No
The Home Secretary asked law enforcement in England and Wales to crack down on any efforts to "harass" or "intimidate" members of the Jewish community, and harassment, according to her, is any form of support for the Palestinian Resistance.
According to her, it is not only pro-Palestine symbols or chants that are worrisome, but even age-old chants like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
Read next: At least 90 children killed at IOF hands since aggression on Gaza
The chants, according to Braverman, should be considered a desire to see "Israel" exterminated completely, and law enforcement should treat such occurrences as "harassment".
“I encourage all chief officers to ensure that any protests which could exacerbate community tensions by way of offensive placards, chants, or behaviors that could be construed as incitement or harassment, have a strong police presence to ensure perpetrators are appropriately dealt with and that communities feel protected,” Braverman wrote.
Massive rallies in support of #Palestine were held in a number of countries around the world, including #Turkey, the #UK, and #Canada.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 9, 2023
People took to the streets with flags of Palestine and chanted slogans in support of the #Palestinian resistance in the #Gaza Strip.
The… pic.twitter.com/ezIE4VUi7o
Reports revealed that some of the statements by students are already being reviewed by Home Office officials to establish whether and how they could take action to terminate their visas.
Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, has written to university vice-chancellors asking them to act “swiftly and decisively” to stamp out “implicit or explicit” threats to Jewish students.
