Man arrested on suspicion of stirring up religious hatred after anti-Zionist protest outside Jewish-owned Notting Hill restaurant

"Video footage showed someone shouting through a megaphone: "Standing with the resistance, we affirm that Palestinians have the right to return to their homeland that was stolen from them during the 1948 Nakba. "We believe in the right to resist by any and all means necessary, for the full liberation and from the river to the sea." Protesters then chanted: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.""

"One man was physically restrained by officers during the demonstration. After the arrest, the protest quickly disbanded, police said. The arrested man has since been bailed. The Met Police said the 35-year-old was arrested on suspicion of chants "that constituted acts to stir up religious hatred". Posting on X, the force said: "Officers made one arrest for chants which constituted a breach of the Public Order Act.""

"The chant is not an arrestable offence by itself. However, police, encouraged by the former home secretary, have said they would consider it as racially aggravated in certain contexts. While some Israelis view the phrase as inciting violence to replace Israel and Jewish people, many activists and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign say the slogan refers to "the right of all Palestinians to freedom, equality and justice" and freedom from occupation."

A 35-year-old man was arrested at an anti-Zionist protest outside Eyal Shani’s Mediterranean restaurant in Notting Hill. Video showed a megaphone chant affirming Palestinians' right to return and invoking resistance "from the river to the sea," followed by protesters chanting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." One man was physically restrained and the demonstration disbanded after the arrest; the arrested man was later bailed. The Met Police said the arrest was on suspicion of chants that constituted acts to stir up religious hatred and a breach of the Public Order Act. Authorities say the chant is not automatically arrestable, though it may be treated as racially aggravated in some contexts. Opinions differ: some Israelis view the phrase as incitement, while activists and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign frame it as a call for Palestinian freedom, equality and an end to occupation. Police maintained they were balancing the right to protest with preventing disruption.

Read at www.standard.co.uk