7 aug 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Wednesday kidnaped eight Palestinian citizens during campaigns in different West Bank areas.
In Bethlehem, the IOF kidnaped two young men identified as Mohamed Roumi and Suleiman al-Dabs from their homes in Aida refugee camp.
The IOF also broke into and ransacked several homes in other areas of the West Bank and kidnaped seven citizens.
They also handed an ex-detainee called Ra’ed Abu Za’nouna a summons for interrogation from the Shin Bet after storming his home in at-Tabaqa, west of al-Khalil.
Israeli Forces Abduct 7 Palestinians in Early-Morning Raids on Wednesday
On Wednesday before dawn, Israeli forces invaded the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, and abducted seven Palestinians who were asleep in bed.
Local sources report that just before dawn on Wednesday, Israeli troops invaded and abducted five Palestinians from different areas around Bethlehem.
According to security sources, the Israeli occupation forces abducted 15-year-old Suleiman Musallam al-Debs, Mohammad Jamal Roumi, 18, from Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, and Malik Hassan al-Zaghari, 24, from Doha, west of the town.
Mohammed Daqdaq, 28, and Ali, 23, were taken from al-Khader village in the south, after the Israeli troops raided and searched their homes .
The sources pointed out that the Israeli soldiers also raided the Kendo fuel station in Bethlehem, and examined the surveillance cameras .
In the northern West Bank, Israeli forces abducted two brothers from Qalqilya on Wednesday morning .
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Wafa News Agency that the detainees were Anas Wajih Abtli, 25, and Adam, 20, who were taken to unknown locations after the Israeli troops raided and searched their family home.
These night raids are a daily occurrence in the West Bank, and are carried out by Israeli troops with the intent of ensuring that Palestinian residents live in fear of abduction while sleeping in their homes at night.
In Bethlehem, the IOF kidnaped two young men identified as Mohamed Roumi and Suleiman al-Dabs from their homes in Aida refugee camp.
The IOF also broke into and ransacked several homes in other areas of the West Bank and kidnaped seven citizens.
They also handed an ex-detainee called Ra’ed Abu Za’nouna a summons for interrogation from the Shin Bet after storming his home in at-Tabaqa, west of al-Khalil.
Israeli Forces Abduct 7 Palestinians in Early-Morning Raids on Wednesday
On Wednesday before dawn, Israeli forces invaded the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, and abducted seven Palestinians who were asleep in bed.
Local sources report that just before dawn on Wednesday, Israeli troops invaded and abducted five Palestinians from different areas around Bethlehem.
According to security sources, the Israeli occupation forces abducted 15-year-old Suleiman Musallam al-Debs, Mohammad Jamal Roumi, 18, from Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, and Malik Hassan al-Zaghari, 24, from Doha, west of the town.
Mohammed Daqdaq, 28, and Ali, 23, were taken from al-Khader village in the south, after the Israeli troops raided and searched their homes .
The sources pointed out that the Israeli soldiers also raided the Kendo fuel station in Bethlehem, and examined the surveillance cameras .
In the northern West Bank, Israeli forces abducted two brothers from Qalqilya on Wednesday morning .
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Wafa News Agency that the detainees were Anas Wajih Abtli, 25, and Adam, 20, who were taken to unknown locations after the Israeli troops raided and searched their family home.
These night raids are a daily occurrence in the West Bank, and are carried out by Israeli troops with the intent of ensuring that Palestinian residents live in fear of abduction while sleeping in their homes at night.
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Humanity 4 Palestine Launched ‘Freedom Sounds’ in London to Benefit Projects for Palestinian Children
One-of-a-kind event to feature Dead Prez, Havoc of the Infamous Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, Lowkey, DJ Snuff and 47SOUL; A study released by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) disclosed a sharp rise in the number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli military forces. Fifty-seven children were killed in 2018, as compared to 15 in 2017. The study revealed that in 2017, 14% of the children in the West Bank and |
53% in the Gaza Strip live in overwhelming poverty. A significant increase since 2011 where 8% in the West Bank and 22% in the Gaza Strip lived in poverty.
Humanity 4 Palestine, a project founded by the Human Act Foundation and headquartered in Copenhagen, is looking to break the silence about the injustices and daily struggles that has been neglected for decades.
On August 16th at the Electric Brixton, Humanity 4 Palestine will hold a benefit concert, which will raise funds to support projects for children in Palestine.
These projects include providing medical aid, clean water, and supporting child prisoners recovering from trauma in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The concert will show case for the first time the new release of a single by Lowkey and 47 Soul, which they will perform for the first time, and the video clip for the song will be filmed at the event.
With their second album, Balfron Promise, released in 2017, 47SOUL’s collaboration with Lowkey is highly anticipated cementing both artists’ politically conscious and justice-driven agenda.
“Israeli oppression and occupation are no longer a stranger to the youth of the world. We think that our music is the soundtrack of resisting them. We are super excited about this concert especially since the funds raised will directly and positively change the lives of Palestinian kids.” said Tareq Abu Kwaik (aka El Far3i).
47Soul is a Palestinian electronic band who are one of the leading forces behind the Shamstep electronic dance music movement in the Middle East.
One half of the US based Hip Hop Group Dead Prez, M1 traveled to Gaza in 2009 on the Viva Palestina convoy along with the organization Existence is Resistance which later took him to 48 territories and the West Bank. In 2010 he conducted hip hop workshops in the refugee camps in Palestine. Upon returning from Gaza, M1 conducted his own speaking tour entitled ‘From the Ghetto to Gaza’.
Humanity 4 Palestine aims to create a global movement and uprising for Palestine. The organization wants to gather people, governments, non-governmental organizations and institutions who stands for humanity to support the freedom of Palestine and its people.
Humanity 4 Palestine, a project founded by the Human Act Foundation and headquartered in Copenhagen, is looking to break the silence about the injustices and daily struggles that has been neglected for decades.
On August 16th at the Electric Brixton, Humanity 4 Palestine will hold a benefit concert, which will raise funds to support projects for children in Palestine.
These projects include providing medical aid, clean water, and supporting child prisoners recovering from trauma in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The concert will show case for the first time the new release of a single by Lowkey and 47 Soul, which they will perform for the first time, and the video clip for the song will be filmed at the event.
With their second album, Balfron Promise, released in 2017, 47SOUL’s collaboration with Lowkey is highly anticipated cementing both artists’ politically conscious and justice-driven agenda.
“Israeli oppression and occupation are no longer a stranger to the youth of the world. We think that our music is the soundtrack of resisting them. We are super excited about this concert especially since the funds raised will directly and positively change the lives of Palestinian kids.” said Tareq Abu Kwaik (aka El Far3i).
47Soul is a Palestinian electronic band who are one of the leading forces behind the Shamstep electronic dance music movement in the Middle East.
One half of the US based Hip Hop Group Dead Prez, M1 traveled to Gaza in 2009 on the Viva Palestina convoy along with the organization Existence is Resistance which later took him to 48 territories and the West Bank. In 2010 he conducted hip hop workshops in the refugee camps in Palestine. Upon returning from Gaza, M1 conducted his own speaking tour entitled ‘From the Ghetto to Gaza’.
Humanity 4 Palestine aims to create a global movement and uprising for Palestine. The organization wants to gather people, governments, non-governmental organizations and institutions who stands for humanity to support the freedom of Palestine and its people.
6 aug 2019
Muhammad Elayyan (4) was summoned to interrogation by the Israeli police for "throwing stones at Israeli soldiers"
Israeli ongoing detention and interrogation of Palestinian children are crimes against humanity, the Ministry of Education (MoE) said in a statement on Tuesday.
The ministry condemned the continuation of Occupation repressive, systematic measures against Palestinian children and minor students, especially in Jerusalem, stressing that these practices are grave and continuous crimes against Palestinian children.
The Ministry pointed out that such practices represent a flagrant violation of international conventions, specifically Article 16 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that “No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home, or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honor and reputation.”
The Ministry added that the scene of summoning the child Mohammed Elyyan, from the town of Al-Issawiya, for interrogation is disgraceful and reflects the brutality of Occupation and reveals its blatant violation of all rights and conventions and human values.
It also drew attention to the harsh psychological effects of arrests and detentions of children in poor health conditions, stressing that the continued violations of Occupation against Palestinian children come as a result of international silence on these criminal practices.
The Ministry renewed its demand that all local and international human rights, humanitarian, and media institutions bear their responsibilities, put an end to these violations, and hold Occupation accountable for its escalating crimes against the Palestinian children.
Israeli ongoing detention and interrogation of Palestinian children are crimes against humanity, the Ministry of Education (MoE) said in a statement on Tuesday.
The ministry condemned the continuation of Occupation repressive, systematic measures against Palestinian children and minor students, especially in Jerusalem, stressing that these practices are grave and continuous crimes against Palestinian children.
The Ministry pointed out that such practices represent a flagrant violation of international conventions, specifically Article 16 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that “No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home, or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honor and reputation.”
The Ministry added that the scene of summoning the child Mohammed Elyyan, from the town of Al-Issawiya, for interrogation is disgraceful and reflects the brutality of Occupation and reveals its blatant violation of all rights and conventions and human values.
It also drew attention to the harsh psychological effects of arrests and detentions of children in poor health conditions, stressing that the continued violations of Occupation against Palestinian children come as a result of international silence on these criminal practices.
The Ministry renewed its demand that all local and international human rights, humanitarian, and media institutions bear their responsibilities, put an end to these violations, and hold Occupation accountable for its escalating crimes against the Palestinian children.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday evening arrested a Palestinian citizen and two of his sons and confiscated construction equipment used to build a new house belonging to him in Nahalin town, west of Bethlehem in the West Bank.
Nahalin mayor Hani Fanoun said the IOF stormed the town, stopped a local resident called Mohamed Shakarneh from completing construction works on his house and then rounded him up along with his two sons, four-year-old Qais and 17-year-old Kamal.
Fanoun added that the IOF confiscated two concrete mixers and a pump from the construction site and took ID cards from Palestinian truck drivers before forcing them to transfer the equipment to Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
He expressed his concern that the IOF would carry out an administrative demolition order against the house as recently happened in Wadi Rahhal village.
Nahalin mayor Hani Fanoun said the IOF stormed the town, stopped a local resident called Mohamed Shakarneh from completing construction works on his house and then rounded him up along with his two sons, four-year-old Qais and 17-year-old Kamal.
Fanoun added that the IOF confiscated two concrete mixers and a pump from the construction site and took ID cards from Palestinian truck drivers before forcing them to transfer the equipment to Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
He expressed his concern that the IOF would carry out an administrative demolition order against the house as recently happened in Wadi Rahhal village.
5 aug 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Monday kidnaped 17 Palestinian citizens during raids on homes in different West Bank and Jerusalem areas.
13 of those Palestinians were arrested in IOF campaigns in the West Bank, according to a statement released by the Israeli army.
According to local sources, the IOF kidnaped a citizen called Isam al-Aloul and his son from their home in Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem.
Five young men were also kidnaped from their homes in al-Arroub refugee camp in northern al-Khalil.
The IOF also summoned several citizens, including a 12-year-old child, during its campaign in al-Arroub camp.
Two children from the family of al-Ammour were taken prisoners during an IOF campaign in Teqoa town, southeast of Bethlehem, while a young man was kidnaped from Beita town in Nablus.
In east Jerusalem, Israeli police forces kidnaped three Palestinians from Issawiya district and another one from Anata town.
Israeli Soldiers Abduct Thirteen Palestinians In West Bank
Israeli soldiers abducted, Monday, at least thirteen Palestinians, including a child and a father along with his son, mainly from their homes in several parts of the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has confirmed.
The PPS said the soldiers abducted two young men, who remained unidentified at the time of this report, while walking on Sultan Suleiman Street, near Bab al-‘Amoud and Bab as-Sahera gates of the Old City, after repeatedly beating and clubbing them.
In Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, the soldiers invaded and searched many homes in the al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of the city, and abducted five Palestinians, including one child.
The PPS office in Hebron said the abducted Palestinians have been identified as Ehab Kamal Janazra, Ehab Kamal Jawabra, Ahmad Rafat al-Badawi, Anan Sharif, and the child Obeida Akram Jawabra, 15, and added that the soldiers summoned Mohammad Nasser Badawi, Ali Hasan Sharif, Obai Jawabra and Hani Ja’ara, for interrogation.
Furthermore, the soldiers installed military roadblocks at the entrances of Sa’ir and Halhoul towns, in addition to Hebron’s northern road, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated the Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
In Tulkarem, in northern West Bank, the soldiers also searched homes and abducted Essam al-‘Aloul along with his son Laith, after invading and ransacking their homes in Nur Shams refugee camp, east of the city.
In Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers invaded and searched homes in Teqoua’ town, southeast of the city, and abducted Mo’men Rateb al-‘Amour, 18, and Mahmoud Ali al-‘Amour, 19.
13 of those Palestinians were arrested in IOF campaigns in the West Bank, according to a statement released by the Israeli army.
According to local sources, the IOF kidnaped a citizen called Isam al-Aloul and his son from their home in Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem.
Five young men were also kidnaped from their homes in al-Arroub refugee camp in northern al-Khalil.
The IOF also summoned several citizens, including a 12-year-old child, during its campaign in al-Arroub camp.
Two children from the family of al-Ammour were taken prisoners during an IOF campaign in Teqoa town, southeast of Bethlehem, while a young man was kidnaped from Beita town in Nablus.
In east Jerusalem, Israeli police forces kidnaped three Palestinians from Issawiya district and another one from Anata town.
Israeli Soldiers Abduct Thirteen Palestinians In West Bank
Israeli soldiers abducted, Monday, at least thirteen Palestinians, including a child and a father along with his son, mainly from their homes in several parts of the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has confirmed.
The PPS said the soldiers abducted two young men, who remained unidentified at the time of this report, while walking on Sultan Suleiman Street, near Bab al-‘Amoud and Bab as-Sahera gates of the Old City, after repeatedly beating and clubbing them.
In Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, the soldiers invaded and searched many homes in the al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of the city, and abducted five Palestinians, including one child.
The PPS office in Hebron said the abducted Palestinians have been identified as Ehab Kamal Janazra, Ehab Kamal Jawabra, Ahmad Rafat al-Badawi, Anan Sharif, and the child Obeida Akram Jawabra, 15, and added that the soldiers summoned Mohammad Nasser Badawi, Ali Hasan Sharif, Obai Jawabra and Hani Ja’ara, for interrogation.
Furthermore, the soldiers installed military roadblocks at the entrances of Sa’ir and Halhoul towns, in addition to Hebron’s northern road, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated the Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
In Tulkarem, in northern West Bank, the soldiers also searched homes and abducted Essam al-‘Aloul along with his son Laith, after invading and ransacking their homes in Nur Shams refugee camp, east of the city.
In Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers invaded and searched homes in Teqoua’ town, southeast of the city, and abducted Mo’men Rateb al-‘Amour, 18, and Mahmoud Ali al-‘Amour, 19.
The Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) said that Israeli forces on Monday morning violently stormed sections 19 and 20 of the Ofer jail and wreaked widespread havoc inside prisoners’ rooms.
According to PPS, the forces raided a section where children under age 18 are held, subdued and handcuffed some of them and transferred them to cells for a while before taking them back to their section.
The forces also transferred about 20 prisoners from section 20 to small cells in the same jail and many others to different jails, including Gilboa prison and jails in the south.
Consequently, the other Ofer prisoners decided to go on hunger strike and close all sections until the jail administration and the Israeli prison service end their repressive measures and respond to their demands.
According to PPS, the forces raided a section where children under age 18 are held, subdued and handcuffed some of them and transferred them to cells for a while before taking them back to their section.
The forces also transferred about 20 prisoners from section 20 to small cells in the same jail and many others to different jails, including Gilboa prison and jails in the south.
Consequently, the other Ofer prisoners decided to go on hunger strike and close all sections until the jail administration and the Israeli prison service end their repressive measures and respond to their demands.
4 aug 2019
A Palestinian minor from the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan was moved to hospital last night after he was brutally beaten by Israeli police officers who raided his family home to arrest him, local sources said.
Heavily armed police forces raided the home of the family of Jamal Ali al-Ghoul in Silwan and severely beat him, causing him to sustain bruises across his body.
He was then moved to hospital for medical treatment, but was later brought to court by the police while being handcuffed and with chains on his ankles.
IOF severely beat Palestinian minor while arresting him
The Al-Yassam unit of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) after midnight on Sunday brutally beat and arrested the minor Jamal Ali al-Ghoul from his family home in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood in Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Jamal was brutally beaten that he had to be taken to a hospital west of Jerusalem, before he was taken this morning to the Israeli court, with his hands and feet cuffed.
A member of the family, Munir al-Ghoul, said Al-Yassam forces stormed the home in Silwan, where they raided many houses of Al-Ghoul family, and arrested another family member, Ahmed Younis al-Ghoul, who was also severely beaten.
It is noteworthy that the occupation forces had arrested the younger brother of Jamal al-Ghoul, Muhammad Ali al-Ghoul mid-last week, despite being at home by the decision “house imprisonment” two months ago.
Heavily armed police forces raided the home of the family of Jamal Ali al-Ghoul in Silwan and severely beat him, causing him to sustain bruises across his body.
He was then moved to hospital for medical treatment, but was later brought to court by the police while being handcuffed and with chains on his ankles.
IOF severely beat Palestinian minor while arresting him
The Al-Yassam unit of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) after midnight on Sunday brutally beat and arrested the minor Jamal Ali al-Ghoul from his family home in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood in Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Jamal was brutally beaten that he had to be taken to a hospital west of Jerusalem, before he was taken this morning to the Israeli court, with his hands and feet cuffed.
A member of the family, Munir al-Ghoul, said Al-Yassam forces stormed the home in Silwan, where they raided many houses of Al-Ghoul family, and arrested another family member, Ahmed Younis al-Ghoul, who was also severely beaten.
It is noteworthy that the occupation forces had arrested the younger brother of Jamal al-Ghoul, Muhammad Ali al-Ghoul mid-last week, despite being at home by the decision “house imprisonment” two months ago.
Medics treat Palestinian children suffering from teargas inhalation. The Big Ride for Palestine says it focuses on helping the 300,000 children in Gaza showing signs of severe psychological distress
Tower Hamlets officials did not divulge real reason for turning down Big Ride for Palestine
Officials at a London council that refused to host a charity event in aid of Palestinian children did not tell the organisers the decision was based on fears their criticism of Israel could breach antisemitism guidelines, internal emails have revealed.
The exchanges among officials at Tower Hamlets council also reveal they thought the event should be turned down, in part because of the row over antisemitism in the Labour party.
The council told The Big Ride for Palestine, which has raised nearly £150,000 for sports equipment for children in Gaza since 2015, that the event’s “political connotations” meant that the closing rally of this year’s bike ride could not go ahead in the borough “without problems”.
Officials told organisers there was a risk speakers might express views which contradicted the council’s policies on community cohesion and equality.
Behind the scenes, council staff raised fears of a “real risk” that the event and its organisers could be seen to have breached the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism because of references on their website to apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
One official said there were concerns “not least because of the recent furour [sic] within the Labour party over Anti Semitism [sic]”.
When considering how to explain the decision, one council official said it would be wise to “avoid the anti Semitism aspect ref their website as this could open a can of worms and come back to bite us”. There was no reference to antisemitism in the email to the event’s organisers.
The internal emails, released after a freedom of information request by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, revealed the council attempted to assess the Big Ride website according to the rubric of the controversial IHRA definition.
The emails showed concern among council officials over quotes on the Big Ride website that described the Israeli treatment of Palestinians as ethnic cleansing and drew parallels between Israeli policies and apartheid-era South Africa.
One section of the website said: “Active opposition to the crimes of the Israeli state is a responsibility, just as opposition to South African apartheid was a moral and political imperative for many”, while another said: “It’s blatantly obvious to recognise the parallels between Apartheid South Africa and the state of Israel ...
This is an Israeli issue, not a Jewish one, many Jewish friends oppose this oppression.”
Elsewhere, the ride was described as a protest “against 67 years of Israeli ethnic cleansing”.
The controversial IHRA definition warns “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour” constitutes antisemitism. It grew in prominence after the Labour party adopted a version that excluded some examples included in the original text.
The party ultimately adopted the full definition, alongside a statement specifying that nothing in it should “undermine freedom of expression on Israel or the rights of Palestinians”.
Critics say the definition potentially conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with racism. Its supporters view it as a means of helping organisations assess subtler forms of antisemitic abuse.
The emails show council staff had already decided the event could be refused on the grounds it was “controversial and sensitive” before calling on colleagues to check it against IHRA criteria.
After looking at the text of the website, an official, whose name was redacted from the released emails, wrote: “It seems therefore, that although the application form raises no issues, the contents of their website does raise the risk that the event will fall foul of the position the council has adopted.”
In a separate email, the council’s head of sports, leisure and culture said she felt the event should be refused because “the council has recently adopted the [IHRA] definition of antisemitism and there are concerns about the content of the organisation’s website with regard to this”.
The head of parks, Stephen Murray, suggested avoiding explaining the reasons behind the refusal in any reply to Big Ride organisers because of concerns that it would open “a can of worms”.
A Tower Hamlets council spokesperson told the Guardian: “The council gave the application careful consideration and decided not to host the event, because we do not host rallies with political connotations, albeit without direct links to political parties.”
A spokesperson for the charity said its work was focused on helping the 300,000 children in Gaza showing signs of severe psychological distress.
The spokesperson added: “It’s a dreadful thing when an over-scrupulous interpretation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism is used behind closed doors to prevent awareness raising of the situation in Palestine and the need for humanitarian support.”
Tower Hamlets officials did not divulge real reason for turning down Big Ride for Palestine
Officials at a London council that refused to host a charity event in aid of Palestinian children did not tell the organisers the decision was based on fears their criticism of Israel could breach antisemitism guidelines, internal emails have revealed.
The exchanges among officials at Tower Hamlets council also reveal they thought the event should be turned down, in part because of the row over antisemitism in the Labour party.
The council told The Big Ride for Palestine, which has raised nearly £150,000 for sports equipment for children in Gaza since 2015, that the event’s “political connotations” meant that the closing rally of this year’s bike ride could not go ahead in the borough “without problems”.
Officials told organisers there was a risk speakers might express views which contradicted the council’s policies on community cohesion and equality.
Behind the scenes, council staff raised fears of a “real risk” that the event and its organisers could be seen to have breached the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism because of references on their website to apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
One official said there were concerns “not least because of the recent furour [sic] within the Labour party over Anti Semitism [sic]”.
When considering how to explain the decision, one council official said it would be wise to “avoid the anti Semitism aspect ref their website as this could open a can of worms and come back to bite us”. There was no reference to antisemitism in the email to the event’s organisers.
The internal emails, released after a freedom of information request by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, revealed the council attempted to assess the Big Ride website according to the rubric of the controversial IHRA definition.
The emails showed concern among council officials over quotes on the Big Ride website that described the Israeli treatment of Palestinians as ethnic cleansing and drew parallels between Israeli policies and apartheid-era South Africa.
One section of the website said: “Active opposition to the crimes of the Israeli state is a responsibility, just as opposition to South African apartheid was a moral and political imperative for many”, while another said: “It’s blatantly obvious to recognise the parallels between Apartheid South Africa and the state of Israel ...
This is an Israeli issue, not a Jewish one, many Jewish friends oppose this oppression.”
Elsewhere, the ride was described as a protest “against 67 years of Israeli ethnic cleansing”.
The controversial IHRA definition warns “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour” constitutes antisemitism. It grew in prominence after the Labour party adopted a version that excluded some examples included in the original text.
The party ultimately adopted the full definition, alongside a statement specifying that nothing in it should “undermine freedom of expression on Israel or the rights of Palestinians”.
Critics say the definition potentially conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with racism. Its supporters view it as a means of helping organisations assess subtler forms of antisemitic abuse.
The emails show council staff had already decided the event could be refused on the grounds it was “controversial and sensitive” before calling on colleagues to check it against IHRA criteria.
After looking at the text of the website, an official, whose name was redacted from the released emails, wrote: “It seems therefore, that although the application form raises no issues, the contents of their website does raise the risk that the event will fall foul of the position the council has adopted.”
In a separate email, the council’s head of sports, leisure and culture said she felt the event should be refused because “the council has recently adopted the [IHRA] definition of antisemitism and there are concerns about the content of the organisation’s website with regard to this”.
The head of parks, Stephen Murray, suggested avoiding explaining the reasons behind the refusal in any reply to Big Ride organisers because of concerns that it would open “a can of worms”.
A Tower Hamlets council spokesperson told the Guardian: “The council gave the application careful consideration and decided not to host the event, because we do not host rallies with political connotations, albeit without direct links to political parties.”
A spokesperson for the charity said its work was focused on helping the 300,000 children in Gaza showing signs of severe psychological distress.
The spokesperson added: “It’s a dreadful thing when an over-scrupulous interpretation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism is used behind closed doors to prevent awareness raising of the situation in Palestine and the need for humanitarian support.”
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