Pro-Palestine group who confronted Starmer in Scotland praised Hamas’ 7 October atrocities
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Pro-Palestine group who confronted Starmer in Scotland praised Hamas’ 7 October atrocities

Two people were charged after the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign urged activists to confront Labour leader in Glasgow on Thursday

Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor

Keir Starmer being escorted past a pro-Palestinian protest in Glasgow
Keir Starmer being escorted past a pro-Palestinian protest in Glasgow

A pro-Palestine group who confronted Keir Starmer as he arrived in Glasgow for a speaking event issued a statement on the day of the 7 October Hamas terror attacks in Israel PRAISING them as “remarkable gains made by the Palestinian resistance”.

The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) had proactively urged its supporters to “be at Glasgow Station for 5.35pm to give Keir Starmer the welcome he deserves” as the Labour leader arrived in the Scottish city on Thursday afternoon.

Activists attempted to surround Starmer as he walked out of the station with one protester shouting: “Keir Starmer you are facilitating Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Stop the massacre of over 7,000 babies.”

Another claimed, “You’re responsible for killing babies in Gaza.”

SPSC statement, made on October 7th, in response to Hamas terror atrocity in Israel

Police Scotland later confirmed they had charged two people “in connection with assaulting police officers at Congress Road and inquiries are ongoing” as the activists congregated outside the Crowne Plaza hotel, where the Labour leader was speaking.

But Jewish News can reveal that on October 7th, the SPSC issued a statement praising the October 7th terror atrocity on its official website as it promoted demonstrations in “solidarity with the aims of the resistance” for the following weekend.

The statement said:”SPSC welcomes the remarkable gains made by the Palestinian resistance in re-taking land occupied since 1948.”

Following decades of colonisation…..  the resistance has temporarily broken the Gaza blockade.”

Advertising the October 14th protests, the SPSC said it “calls for solidarity with the aims of the resistance – a free Palestine and an end to Zionist colonisation and apartheid.”

The SPSC’s social media feed on X/Twitter show the group repeatedly share material posted by disgraced academic David Miller, the conspiracist rapper Lowkey along with hardline anti-Israel accounts.

The SPSC, who have long faced claims of rapid antisemitism within its organisation, have also posted material attempting to dispute claims that Hamas terrorists committed rape on October 7th.

Repeatedly backing calls for a ceasefire to the current war between Israel and Hamas, the SPSC wrote on November 29th:”A permanent ceasefire is of the utmost urgency at this point, but we cannot stop there. A ceasefire without further action, will allow the Zionist state to continue its genocide of Palestinians.”

Starmer has stood strong in the face of criticism over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war, which has stressed that unless the terrorists are prevented from ever carrying out an attack such as that on October 7th again, there will be no security for the Jewish state.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 33-year-old man and 26-year-old woman have been arrested and charged in connection with disorder offences following a protest in Congress Road, Glasgow, on Thursday December 7, 2023.

“A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

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