Labour MP asks for ‘urgent update’ on cases of ‘two Hamas operatives in Barnet’
Christian Wakeford express concern that Muhammad Sawalha, revealed to be living in Colindale, represents a 'serious national security risk'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A Labour MP has asked for an “urgent update” from the government on the cases of two alleged Hamas operatives living in Barnet.
Raising a Point of Order in the Commons, Christian Wakeford referred to a Sunday Times report last weekend, which had revealed how Sawalha was a “Hamas fugitive who ran the terror group’s operations in the West Bank and was ” now living in a former council house in Colindale.
He said it was a “serious national security risk” that the alleged Hamas operative was living in London, “especially when he appears to have done so after obtaining fake documents and British citizenship.”
Using parliamentary privilege the Bury South MP also told MPs “Zaher Birawi lives in Barnet not far from Sawalha.”
The MP said in 2013 Israel had designated Birawi as a “senior Hamas operative in Europe” and he is listed as a trustee of a UK registered charity: Education Aid for Palestinians.
A publicly available video shows Birawi hosting a 2019 event in London titled: “Understanding Hamas”
“Two weeks ago Hamas launched the deadliest terror attack the world has seen since 9/11,” added Wakeford, noting that the UK had proscribed the terror group in its entirety in 2021.
The MP, a Labour whip, asked the deputy speaker for advice on how he could raise the matter of “great urgency” with the government.
Deputy Speaker Rosie Winterton confirmed the government benches will have heard Wakeford’s point.
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