OPINION: Terror changed my life forever – the UK is walking a dangerous path
The UK's attitude towards terrorism appears to Sarri Singer to have shifted within the last 15 years - terrorism which is not distant or hypothetical
I remember it like it was yesterday, the sounds of crushing metal and feeling the shockwave as the explosion tore through the bus on June 11, 2003. This was the moment an 18-year-old Palestinian terrorist who had been indoctrinated by Hamas tried to murder me in one of the largest suicide bombings in Jerusalem during the second intifada. On that day over 100 of us were injured and 17 innocent people were murdered, including all those seated and standing around me. I survived, but life has never been the same. That day set me on a path to stand against terrorism, support other victims of terrorism around the world, and fight so the world never forgets the human cost of extremism.
I first came to London in 2010 for the anniversary of the London bombings. I was invited to join with several other victims and those who work for victim’s organizations in Europe. As someone who survived a suicide bombing in Israel, it meant a lot to be there with those that stood firmly against terrorism and supported victims. At the time, the UK felt united in its values against terrorism. Terrorism was seen for what it was and there was no space for excuses or blurred lines.
This past summer I had the honour to once again attend the anniversary ceremony of the 7/7 London bombings, something that I have done for the past 15 years. This year was especially important as it was the 20-year anniversary of that horrific day. Being there to support all those innocent victims, both survivors and bereaved, it’s hard to ignore how much things have shifted over the years. There’s an alarming level of acceptance for people openly supporting Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for mass murder (including the October 7 attacks), in broad daylight on the streets of London. Spending time in London especially over the last two years I have seen these changes increase and there have been times where I have removed anything I was wearing showing I am Jewish for fear of something happening. I had never felt that way before in London, but after the horrific attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, I have felt that very strongly walking the streets of London.
What’s worse is that this isn’t just happening on the streets of London with protests. It’s happening inside Parliament by those who are supposed to protect all their citizens. Some MPs have aligned themselves with positions that either ignore or excuse the actions of terrorist groups. Not only are they adding to the problems, but they were the ones heavily responsible for pushing the Prime Minister and the UK to recognise a Palestinian state, rewarding the terrorists. Instead, they should be demanding that Hamas release all the remaining hostages and disarm. It’s shocking to see politicians forgetting all the terrorist attacks that have impacted the UK in the last few years after the 7/7 London bombings, including the Manchester Arena bombing, the Westminster attack, Borough Market attack, Fishmongers Hall and more. Those indoctrinated and radicalised are funded by the same terrorists that are funding Hamas and many other terrorist organizations like the IRA, Hezbollah, Daesh, Al-Qaeda, and others.
How are the political leaders not doing anything about those like Zaher Birawi, a known Hamas-linked individual who has been described by security officials as a threat, yet remains active in the UK? Where is the accountability for those that are connected to terrorism and threaten all that the western world stands for?
That is why I am so alarmed at the decision by the UK Prime Minister to formally recognise a Palestinian state at this moment in history. To do so, while Hamas still holds hostages in Gaza, while Israeli families continue to bury their loved ones, and while terrorists openly call for more violence, is not a gesture of peace. It is a gift to terror groups who thrive on international validation.
The recent terrorist attack in Manchester is another reminder that these threats are not distant or hypothetical. They strike at the heart of everyday life in the UK. For the families now facing the loss of loved ones and for those injured whose lives will never be the same, there is no comfort in blurred lines or symbolic gestures. And still, in the very country now reeling from this latest attack, political leaders are choosing to look away from the true source of terror.
As a survivor of terrorism, this message is painful. It feels like everything victims have fought for after what they have been through including truth, justice, and accountability are being sacrificed for political convenience. I didn’t survive a terrorist attack to watch the world side with the people who carried it out and tried to murder me just because I am a Jew. We need to return to moral clarity quickly before the next attack occurs and lives are lost to silence, politics, and more radicalization.
Supporting Palestinians and calling for peace should never mean legitimizing Hamas. But right now, that line is being crossed around the world. This direction that the Prime Minister is taking is very dangerous. By allowing these kinds of things to continue, the UK is feeding extremism, which is making it easier for radical ideas to spread and harder for people to feel safe. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s current statement of the UK recognizing a Palestinian state with
other countries sends a strong message that terrorism can continue because it will eventually lead to political gain.
The fact that any world leader could make this statement while innocent
hostages remain in Gaza that were taken on October 7, and while Hamas is still in control is deeply troubling on many levels. By the UK and others recognizing a Palestinian state, this compromises the safety and security of those countries, and the world will only be more at risk. This will lead to growing divisions, rising hate, and a political culture that prioritises appeasement over principle. Where is the real leadership? Where are the voices standing up for the safety of their citizens and
taking a hard stance against extremist ideology? Does this hard stance not apply when it comes to Jews and to Israel? There should be no space, no platform, and no legitimacy given to those who glorify terrorism. If leaders don’t draw the line now, they’re opening the door for something far more dangerous, and it will be here sooner than we think.
People can think what they want about President Trump but what he has done is drawn a hard line against rewarding Hamas. He’s publicly criticised the Prime Minister’s recognizing a Palestinian state, calling it a “reward” for terrorism. Under his presidency, the US cut hundreds of millions in aid to the Palestinian Authority because the money that was supposed to be used for aid was being used to fund the “pay for slay” program which gives monthly stipends to terrorists
and their families including the family of the terrorist that carried out my attack. His administration has also taken steps to combat extremism, focusing on trying to get Hamas to release all hostages, sanctioning Iranian-backed groups, and pushing for expanded Abraham Accords peace deals.
What has the UK and other world leaders done regarding all of this? The UK and others should consider working with those committed to holding terrorists accountable and taking a stronger stance on stopping terror financing instead of contributing to it and standing with those who overlook and legitimise terrorism.
Sarri Singer is the Founder and Director of Strength to Strength, a nonprofit organization based in New York City established to bring survivors of terrorism and their families together globally to heal. For more information, please visit the website at www.stosglobal.org.
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