Opinion: Hamas must fail

Every decent human being was extremely disturbed by the horrific terrorist attacks perpetrated by the terrorist group Hamas last Saturday. There can be no justification whatsoever for the horrendous murders committed which claimed many lives including innocent British civilians.

Nothing short of an unequivocal condemnation is acceptable. In Britain, Hamas is a proscribed terrorist movement and supporting it is a criminal offense. There should not be any ambiguity about this.

British Jews, Israeli expatriates and others have the right to protest against the actions committed by Hamas and to show support and solidarity with Israel at this difficult time. They are entitled to do so in peace and without intimidation.

The Hamas actions have unfortunately led to a major Israeli retaliation which many describe as disproportionate because of the unacceptable Palestinian civilian casualties. British Muslims, Palestinian expatriates and others have an equal right to protest and show support and solidarity with Palestinian victims without intimidation. I find the disproportionate number of Palestinian civilian victims unacceptable.

Neither group is entitled to threaten the other. We are all guaranteed the right to free speech and to protest and express solidarity within the confines of the law. There have sadly been a number of antisemitic attacks in recent days. Whether the vandalism against a Kosher restaurant in Golders Green or posters supporting Hamas, those acts break the law. They are illegal, should not be tolerated and must be punished according to law.

I am heartened by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s visit to a London synagogue and meeting with the Chief Rabbi to show solidarity with the Jewish community. We too as Muslims must show similar support to the Jewish community whenever it feels threatened.

In 2018, the same Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, hosted us as Muslims Against Antisemitism along with members of Britain’s Muslim community to a Ramadan iftar at London’s Central synagogue.

We continue to have excellent relations with Britain’s Jewish community. Extremists like Hamas will do everything they can to sow the seeds of discord between Jews and Muslims in Britain and in the Holy Land. Hamas must fail.

Whilst both communities naturally grieve and show support for their communities, it is vital that we continue to do so in harmony. Britain’s Jewish and Muslim communities must look at how Arabs and Jews live in harmony in many cities and towns in Israel. Neve Shalom Wahat As-salam or Oasis of Peace, is such an example of how Jews and Arab live together and work together even in the most difficult times.

I am a proud trustee of the British Friends of this role model village. Neve Shalom should be an inspiration not only for the Holy Land, but also for us in Britain.

As there will no doubt be public events showing support for both sides, I appeal to pro-Palestinian voices to do so within the confines of the law. I also strongly appeal to them not to intimidate the Jewish community which has an equal right to protest.

There are many British victims who perished at the hands of Hamas. Equally, I appeal to pro-Israeli voices not to demonise the whole of Britain’s Palestinian and Muslim communities because of the actions of Hamas and a few law-breakers in Britain. There are also British citizens who are stuck in Gaza and feel threatened.

This is not a time for incitement but for standing together in the face of the biggest threat facing our communities in decades. We must not let the extremists win.

• Ghanem Nuseibeh, Chair of Muslims against Anti-Semitism