To think we should avoid London right now?

[StayorgoLDN]

Due to visit London in the next few weeks.

Anxious with Palestinian protests and so forth in the news. I don’t want to be near that with young children, and worried that it may escalate to some sort of attack.

We are not Jews, but presuming as the U.K. is supporting Israel that we’ll all be fair game ie there might be an attack/bomb somewhere prominent to send a message to gov.

Have been in London during terrorist attacks before and I’d rather avoid.

AIBU to consider rescheduling our family trip to next year?

Most countries all over the world are supporting Israel.

I am sorry for the losses that you and your loved ones has suffered. Truly. Every life is precious.

You absolutely are not being unreasonable, and how dare anyone tell you that your fear is irrational. Listen to your gut, you won’t miss much 🥹

Sorry this is the only pic I had of a non NK Jewish person but there were several others I saw too. She also spoke very movingly about why she was there.

You know an actual PEACE demonstration - a demonstration that opposed what Hamas have done AND what the IDF are doing, and called for the return of the Israeli hostages (as if they're not all dead already) and a cessation of hostilities all around - a demonstration that didn't pretend it was all one-sided, which didn't call for the destruction of every Jew in Israel, which spoke out against what Hamas have done to Jewish women, babies, children, elderly people, instead of celebrating it as 'resistance' with 'jubilation' - would have been an amazing, powerful, meaningful thing.

Jewish people - by which I mean the vast majority of Jews, not the tiny, unrepresentative minority here - could and would have turned up to offer our support, and would not have felt - as we were intended to feel - terrorised and destroyed within our own homes.

One of the very fucking worst things said about this conflict was tweeted by Rivkah Brown of Novara media, who is, genuinely, Jewish, and tweeted that the rape, degradation, burning alive, disemboweling, beheading, shooting, and kidnap of Jews was a cause for celebration. Being Jewish doesn't make what she said OK. There being a handful of Jews at this protest doesn't make it OK either.

I was doing a uni summer job in central London on 7/7 and remember it well. It was terrifying and chaotic for me as a young adult let alone for a child, even without any additional needs. I totally understand your concern right now. Whilst you and your family would probably be perfectly safe, having experienced that and given the current climate it would be completely reasonable to postpone the trip until the situation calms down/resolves itself.

And what about the Palestinian babies, children, woman and elderly people who are being murdered constantly like they are disposable. Not since the weekend but for decades. These crimes need to be condemned and Israel needs to be held accountable for the genocide it’s carrying out. The Israeli authorities asked the 1million Gazan’s to shift south so it can obliterate the shit out of the north only for them to go and bonb the convoys whilst they were trying to reach safety.

Anyways conversing with you if like banging my head on a wall so I won’t be replying any further as I can never be convinced that Israel is a victim in this.

for the OP, London is as safe as far as normal London safety goes.

But there is support from the U.K. government, specifically for this purpose?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-support-to-keep-british-jewish-communities-safe

I am so sorry for the loss to the Jewish community. Hamas should never have targeted civilians. It was a horrific crime.

The actions of the Israeli government in response is deplorable. The displacement of 1 million Palestinians and indiscriminate bombing of a population that is over 40% children is sickening. I am so glad to see Londoners come out to protest it and signal to their government that they do not support it. To describe these protests as "pro Hamas" is wilful misrepresentation.

Does it not bother you that no one at the protest called out any of this? No one? That people said this was a cause for celebration and jubilation? That people called this 'resistance'?

x.com/Israel/status/1712456473303826874?s=20

I hate the fact that any civilians have been killed. I despair for the world. I wouldn't dream of turning up to a mass event where only one side was condemned, while deaths, rape, torture, kidnapping on the 'other side' were celebrated.

Do you condemn any of this?

https://x.com/Israel/status/1712456473303826874?s=20

You seem to view things in a very binarized way. Nobody was celebrating the death of Israelis. It’s very sad that you seem denounce the Jewishness of other Jews, causing further polarization (and that within your faith). You want validation for YOUR viewpoint and really struggle to see another one.

The government in England isn't supporting Hamas. Protesters are protesting against their government, and what they are supporting. It makes perfect sense for it to be the focus.

I could also send you horrific videos- and unlike you, not just from the last few days, but of settlers and soldiers killing civilians at point blank range, at least monthly, for the past decade. Of settlers burning children alive. Of journalists being murdered by Israel. Sending videos of horrific moments does nothing to detract from the overall situation- an occupying force brutally oppressing the Palestinian population.

The reaction from Hamas to this, as I said and think, was awful. And my Palestinian family in Palestine (and outside) do not and never have supported Hamas.

Where we are in London, very mixed ethnically, life goes on as normal. As it should.

I don't 'denounce their Jewishness' - what would that even mean? They are Jewish. They're also choosing to participate in events that are designed to minimise, celebrate and whitewash the horrendous murders and torture of other Jews. That's a shitty thing to do. I don't hold them any more responsible for that shitty behaviour than I do any of the other, non-Jewish people who also did the same, shitty thing.

Did you watch that video? No one at that demonstration spoke a word against what Hamas have done. Doesn't that bother you at all?

I've seen the videos. I utterly condemn the murder and torture of civilians, of women, children, babies, and elderly people, no matter who perpetrates them. And I don't dismiss rape, torture, murder and kidnap as 'moments'. That's the difference.

Also @Yazzi I am not surprised to hear that your Palestinian family don't support Hamas. Hamas are cunts. They live in luxury and don't give a shit what happens to ordinary people in Gaza. But these demonstrations don't speak out against Hamas. They don't speak out against what has been done against women, children, etc. by Hamas. They only speak out against Israel. Wonder why.

Here's what happened to a supporter of Israel who turned up in London today
https://x.com/israel_advocacy/status/1713292628035338617?s=20

And here are people celebrating the death of Israelis

https://twitter.com/HeidiBachram/status/1713206980972581018

Do you actually wonder why or are you being disingenuous?

I "wonder why" the focus in Jewish gatherings over the last few days is not the utter destruction of Gaza, the murder and dismemberment of babies and children and adults alike by bomb strikes in civilian areas beyond the cursory "sad for all peaceful people caught up in the conflict". I "wonder why" you demand Palestinians condemn Hamas but you have not proactively condemned Netanyahu here. I "wonder why" you don't focus on babies in incubators who will die in Gaza when generators run out of power because Israel has blocked electricity.

I respect the reality that Jewish communities will feel the pain of Jewish people hurt over the last few days more viscerally and immediately. But to act like you have some kind of moral high ground because Palestinians are similarly focused on their pain is utter hypocrisy.

Not sure if I've missed it but has there been any march or vigil for the Jewish victims yet?

I don't know about in London. But in my city there was a vigil for the Jewish deaths attended by all political leaders amongst many other.

Yes there was a big vigil in Whitehall one evening last week.

@StayorgoLDN If you are worried don’t go but honestly an attack could happen anywhere & at anytime.

I avoid London as I find the whole place claustrophobic.

I’m going to stop posting replying to you. You are clearly very affected by what’s happened and your responses, understandably, are very one-sided. I saw the videos - they were no more horrific than the footage that has emerged from innocent Gazans being slaughtered. Nobody is a winner here. Wishing you and all those affected from both sides peace.