Eyewitness: tensions rise at ‘pro-Hamas’ book launch

Chris Hobbs attends a protest and counter protest around a controversial book launch related to a proscribed terrorist group.

Since the dreadful events of the 7th of October 2023, there have been countless protests in relation to the Palestine issue together with a number of pro-Israeli counter-protests.

However, a scheduled book launch at the London School of Economics prompted yet another protest and counter-protest; however, this event had an increased controversial edge in that the book appears to provide sucour for a terrorist organisation that is proscribed in the UK and many other countries.

It would have come as little surprise to the Met’s Public Order Branch that pro-Israeli and Jewish groups would stage a protest that would then provoke pro-Palestine reaction. Whilst the word ‘Hamas’ doesn’t feature in speeches heard during the major Palestine Solidarity Campaign rallies, the fact that the book launch is based on Hamas inevitably added the aforementioned ‘edge’ to proceedings.

Keeping rivals apart

When I arrived, the scene resembled that of an eighties football match. Situated in front of building is a fenced off area; to the left were the pro-Palestinians; to the right pro-Israelis and in the middle were police officers separating the two groups.

Apparently, before my arrival there was some minor ‘push and shove’ as both sides attempted to establish themselves. Unsurprisingly, many on the pro-Palestine side were quite youthful yet interestingly, walking through the campus it was clear many students were clearly opting to ignore the clamor that was occurring by the LSE building adjacent to Lincolns Inn Fields.

As the evening progressed, insults were exchanged on both sides yet the pro-Israeli contingent had an advantage in that they possessed loudspeakers which were extremely effective. This enabled passionate speeches to be made and music to be played both traditional and ‘mainstream’ including Elton John’s ‘I’m Still Standing.’

However, the Hamas linked ‘edge’ to the evening was illustrated by a small number of pro-Israelis who positioned themselves on the other side of the fenced area housing the pro-Palestinians. Despite the adjacent police presence, as individuals identifiable pro-Palestinians arrived or left, they were subjected to insults and low- level intimidation although there was no violence. In fairness to both sides, over recent months despite the emotive issues and strongly held opinions on both sides, there has been relatively little physical disorder.

There also seemed, at this protest, a small group engaging officers in conversation and filming the interaction via mobile phones and cameras. I and other observers, felt that, rather like the so-called auditors, the object of the exercise was to tempt individual officers into making comments that could later be used against the Met.

Arrests

At some stage during this process, a male was arrested apparently for an alleged offence on a previous occasion. Shortly before 8PM, the main Israeli contingent called a halt to proceedings and sung ‘God save the King’ before thanking the Metropolitan Police.

The Palestinian crowd remained chanting for a short while as most of the pro-Israeli side left. Then, they too left, primarily in a group ‘for safety.’ As they were walking away police made an arrest, escorting the prisoner back to where police carriers were parked. The dispersing pro-Palestinians regrouped and followed the arresting officers chanting ‘let him go.’ Other officers were quickly on the scene and formed a protective bubble around the arresting officers before completing the short journey to the prisoner transport.

After chanting that police were the ‘terrorists in uniform’ the crowd dispersed as the prisoner was transported away from the scene; Met officers could then take considerable satisfaction from the fact despite the obvious tensions and emotions,’ there was no disorder.

As for the book launch; that was moved to another undisclosed venue which again begs the question as to why the use of megaphones by the Met is seen so infrequently during public order events. Perhaps conveying that information to the activists on both sides could have had a salutary effect on the obvious tensions.

Chris Hobbs is a former Special Branch officer who follows public order events for Police Oracle as an observer. 

Category: OpsPublic Order