Jewish boy horrified as Palestine mob ‘rip up hostage poster and hurl abuse’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

A Jewish schoolboy has been left shaken after a gaggle of pro-Palestine protesters tore up his hostage poster and hurled abuse at him. The teenager was staging a silent stand in opposition to weekly rallies in Liverpool metropolis centre and in help of hostages held in Gaza after Hamas’s October 7 assaults on Israel.

The 16-year-old, recognized solely by his first identify, Akiva, stood together with marchers wearing an Israel soccer shirt, sporting a kippah head overlaying and holding a poster with footage of hostages which learn: “Our love is stronger than your hate. Bring them home.”

But protesters have been accused of tearing the poster from him, shouting in his face and hurling abuse, with one allegedly lashing out on the boy together with his wood placard.

Footage posted on social media exhibits Akiva standing outdoors an M&S in Liverpool metropolis centre as marchers file previous whereas two stewards stand subsequent to the boy urging protesters to maneuver on.

Akiva instructed Express.co.uk: “I feel that we need to understand that these protests are not peaceful like they claim and are a breeding ground for hate. Shame on Merseyside Police for allowing these hate filled mobs to go unchecked.”

Merseyside Police has stated there was a visual police presence on the march and anti-semitism won’t be tolerated in any type. The power stated officers are actually investigating a report of an assault.

Akiva’s mum Sara, who would solely give her first identify for concern of any repercussions, instructed Express.co.uk her son was shaken by what occurred, however was decided the mob would not cease him.

She stated: “It got aggressive very quickly. Within seconds someone ripped part of the poster from his hands. He couldn’t even recover before one man came and ripped the rest of the poster from his hands and gave him a shove.

“He determined to remain there. He simply stood there, however the abuse continued… He was screamed at. He was verbally abused. One man hit him with a placard. It was all very, very scary actually. He was simply being a Jew.

“He was just standing there calmly and peacefully. That should not be provocative in Britain today.”

Sara stated there have been no law enforcement officials close by, and questioned whether or not the march itself was adequately policed. According to Akiva’s mum, there are weekly pro-Palestine rallies in Liverpool, with Akiva first taking a stand two weeks in the past.

But she stated on the earlier march there have been police defending her son and it handed off with out bother. Sara stated: “It was fairly benign. People were congratulating him.”

She claimed that when the household ultimately discovered the police, they have been instructed to keep away from the protesters. Sara stated: “They just didn’t seem bothered…What happened was really unexpected. We just expected it to be an uneventful attempt to show Liverpool there’s another side to this story. We even thought we could sit down and talk to the other side. But it got very nasty very quickly.”

Det Ch Insp Andrew McCourt stated: “There was a visible police presence which had officers from different units accompany the protesters as they marched through the city centre.”

He stated the power is conscious of footage being circulated on social media and urged individuals to not share it because it may very well be prejudicial to the continuing investigation.

The officer stated: “Merseyside Police respects the right to protest and expression of views. Our officers were in the city centre to ensure the safety of protestors and other members of the public, but aggressive and abusive behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated.”

DCI McCourt added: “Here at Merseyside Police we believe everyone should be able to live their lives without fear of being subjected to verbal, or physical abuse. We know the impact the conflict in the Middle East is having around the world and we are supporting those communities affected on Merseyside, including our officers and staff who have friends in Israel and Palestine.

“Antisemitism, racial, and faith-based discrimination won’t be tolerated in any type. Policing takes all studies of hate crime critically as a result of we all know that they’ve a devastating affect on particular person victims and focused communities.”

Sara said her son won’t stage another silent stand again if there aren’t any police around to ensure his safety. She said: “These are usually not peaceable protests until the police are there. It’s too harmful.”

The concerned mum added: “Everybody has a proper to free speech, however individuals should be secure. People ought to be capable to stroll round exhibiting their Jewish id with out concern. That’s not occurring. This exhibits it isn’t doable when these protests are there.”

She said: “Most Jewish individuals really feel deeply linked to what’s occurring in Israel. Most individuals additionally really feel nice sympathy for harmless Gazans as nicely. We as a household really feel for each, however there’s one other facet to the story.”

DCI McCourt said Merseyside Police has a policing plan in place to ensure the right to lawful protest while allowing members of the public to go about their normal daily business.

Liverpool Friends of Palestine appears to have organised Sunday’s march from Liverpool’s Catholic Cathedral to Derby Square. Express.co.uk has approached the group for comment.

The incident in Liverpool came after thousands of people took part in a march in London on Saturday (June 8), calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Marching outside Downing Street, protesters waved flags and placards, chanting slogans including “free, free Palestine” and “in our 1000’s, in our hundreds of thousands, we’re all Palestinians”.

Various speakers, including the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, gave speeches from a stage outside Parliament.

Mr Zomlot said: “I’m operating out of phrases not solely to explain the horror we’re witnessing each single day, I’m operating out of phrases to assist me perceive how world leaders, how mainstream media can not see, can not report, can not act.

“I have questions. How do they sleep when they see the pictures of skeletal children shaking with fear?”

Pro-Palestine protests have taken place in Britain for weeks since Hamas gunmen attacked and killed 1,139 and took dozens of hostages on October 7.

Tens of 1000’s of individuals have died in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive in response to the assaults.