‘You are Jew hunting!’ Sheffield BDS activists challenged while going door to door
Three men filmed in Woodseats asking people 'to boycott Israeli goods' and reportedly collating their responses
Police in Sheffield are investigating an altercation between pro-Palestinian campaigners knocking on doors attempting to sign people up to an anti-Israel campaign and two people who challenged them, with police citing ‘local resident’s concern’.
The incident, which took place on Sunday in the Woodseats suburb of the city, involved men believed to be part of the “Sheffield Apartheid Free Zone” (SAFZ) group, knocking on doors to encourage households not to buy from “the apartheid state”.
In widely shared video footage, the as yet unidentified campaigners are angrily questioned by writer Jean Hatchet and her partner, a filmographer identified by the Twitter handle @LightninLex.
They ask: “Are you taking records of the people that answer in what you call an anti-Zionist way. Are you taking records of their addresses?”
When the trio hesitate to answer, with one urging the others not to respond and another saying “Just go away”, Hatchet continues: “We are going to follow you around and every door you knock on we’ll tell them you are Jew hunting” after which the men say “they’ve got to stop”.
Hatchet replies: “Good, You should stop. You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself”, whilst one man holds up his own phone to film her.
She says: “I’m fine not to be photographed. I’m not a Jew-hater”; the man, wearing a hat in a watermelon design, widely recognised as a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, says: “I’m only asking people to boycott Israeli goods” and confirming “we’re taking note of doors we’ve knocked on.”
Asked if they refuse to knock on Jewish doors, he responds: “We knock on everybody’s door.”
Hatchet persists, says: “You’re telling me there are some doors you don’t knock on again. Which ones are those? You record those who give an answer that is against your politics, is that right?”
He responds: “We record ‘no answer’, or ‘not interested’ or ‘supportive'”, confirming that the addresses of those who respond ‘not interested’ are recorded.
“That is exactly what you are doing,” says Hatchet. “You are Jew hunting.”
Other footage, shared on social media and viewed by Jewish News, appears to show several individuals from the “Apartheid Free Zone” campaign physically accosting those questioning them.
South Yorkshire police told Jewish News: “At 11.52am on Sunday 15 February, we were called to reports of an altercation at Woodseats House Road, Sheffield.
“It is reported that a group were door-knocking in the area and handing out leaflets when they were approached by two individuals. It is alleged that one of the men in the first group was assaulted. We have also received reports of videos circulating on social media showing the altercation between the two groups. Officers attended the location following the incident and are carrying out enquiries.”
NPT Inspector Amy Mellor added: “I am aware that videos about yesterday’s incident in Woodseats are circulating on social media, and that some of these may have been edited. Our officers are working hard to understand the full circumstances.
“I know that residents may be concerned, and I would like to reassure you that our officers have been in the area over the weekend and will be back today to provide reassurance to the community. If you have any concerns, please speak them, they are there to support you.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to get in touch online or by calling 101, quoting incident number 309 of 15 February 2026.
The police subsequently told Jewish News that “we have since received a report of a religiously motivated assault in relation to this incident.
“A woman has reported being assaulted by two men at Woodseats House Road at 11.28am on Sunday 15 February. Enquiries are ongoing.”
The Sheffield campaigners appear to be part of a campaign which has also recently been active in Bristol and Brighton. Whilst Brighton MP and cabinet minister Peter Kyle has called on the police to investigate the group for alleged hate crimes and breaches of incitement laws, Sussex Police Police have said they will not investigate, stating that “at this time, there is no evidence of criminal activity”.
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