40,000 people march through London calling for the release of the hostages.

[keenforhelp]

Bravo UK!

"In one of the biggest shows of UK solidarity with Israel since October 7, over 40,000 people marched through London on Sunday afternoon, calling for the hostages to be released.
In a sea of yellow ribbons and balloons, people from across the spectrum of Anglo-Jewry and many supporters of other faiths marched from Holborn down to Whitehall, chanting “Bring them home”, waving Israeli flags, carrying posters with the words “Time is running out” and singing along to Israeli songs blasting from loudspeakers."

"Addressing the crowd of thousands outside Downing Street, Lord Stuart Polak said he had “never in my life seen such a crowd here in Whitehall. You should all be proud of yourselves."
He added that we are “haunted by the deafening silence” of international organisations and bodies who have not done enough to rebuke the actions of Hamas."

https://www.thejc.com/community/40-000-people-march-through-london-calling-for-the-release-of-the-hostages-uf4n9es1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clkkxmmv4m9o

Yes, I am offended by what you said but not because it's a differing opinion. I'm offended by the idea that you seem to think Jews in the diaspora should do more to stop the war. That's the part I find inappropriate. I often find comments with anti-Semitic undertones inappropriate.

@Nincompoopies I do not think that, nor have I said that.

Am I still antisemitic?

Since we're playing semantics, did I at any point say you're antisemitic?

This thread...😵‍💫 there is never going to be peace between Israel and Palestine...

You said: "That's the part I find inappropriate. I often find comments with anti-Semitic undertones inappropriate."

What was this referring to? Was this not aimed at me? If you're going to throw around "antisemitism" to make your point pls back it up and I'd be happy to clear up the misunderstanding (if you want, if you don't want that's obviously fine too).

We've already been through this but here we go again.

"However, if the international jewry push for the hostages to be released maybe that will help put pressure on Israel to deescalate."

You don't see the anti-Semitic undertones here?

Sorry I'm a bit thick but what does 'international Jewry mean"? I know what the International Jew means though, sadly.

And to be clear, you posted that just after my comment about how Muslims shouldn't be made to speak out against Hamas. So you should've known that kind of "speculation" wasn't going to go down particularly well.

Not thick! I imagine she means diaspora jews (so nothing to do with Ford and International Jew)

Suggesting diaspora Jews should somehow bear influence on the Israeli government has very strong antisemitic undertones as @Nincompoopies pointed out.

@Nincompoopies are you being serious? I never said they OUGHT to speak out or be made to speak out. And I have since clarified that I do not think they OUGHT to and also pointed out multiple times now that I NEVER SAID THEY OUGHT TO. In any of my posts. I said that protests for hostage release in the UK aren't going to influence Hamas but could be intended to influence Israel. I said that directly in response to a question about why protesters might be out there asking Hamas for the hostages to be released. I honestly cant make this any clearer.

You misunderstood my post and you are embarrassing yourself by doubling down and crying antisemitism even though my post has now been clarified (and had already been clarified). Even if I am factually wrong and pro-hostage protests don't make anyone question netanyahus strategy that doesn't mean my post is antisemitic.

FWIW - I also agree that muslims don't need to speak out when other muslims commit crimes. Just putting that out there before you call me islamophobic.

I am fully supportive of anyone - jew muslim whatever- who wants to not engage with this stuff. None of us are obligated to be politically active if we don't want to be.

What are your thoughts on the protestors in London who confront anyone they see as Jewish by verbally abusing them and heckling? When they live in a London and want to go about their normal business, so have to spend every Saturday sat indoors to avoid it? Even the police are aware of the danger Jews are in, as evidenced recently when a Jew was stopped from passing by as the police apparently couldn’t guarantee their safety? It’s a myth that these protests are lovely and peaceful. They’re really not. They’re intimidating and aggressive.

You don't think they ought, just that that's what they were possibly trying to do. Because Jews have some kind of power of what goes on in Israel?

As I said, the undertones are there. That's the bit I found offensive.

Oh, and this weekend we’ve had ‘protestors’ vandalising our local Barclays Bank and McDonald’s with graffiti. Just bullying aggressive tactics which again put to bed any statements that the pro Palestinian protests are peaceful. People using these buildings should be able to enjoy their safe space without being intimidated.

Ah ok. So first I was antisemitic for saying jews ought to speak up against Israel. Now you've realised I didn't actually say that, so you're claiming I'm antisemitic for thinking that protests might be intended to make an impact? Have I got that right? This is so absurd you clearly have a bee in your bonnet so I'm going to stop engaging. Feel free to be offended by our conversation. @Nincompoopies

Any "speculation" like yours where you somehow link Jews and Israel is not ok. And you know that. You're just doing that thing where you try to pretend I'm the one who has done something wrong when actually, you're the one making comments with anti-Semitic undertones and then refusing to apologise and learn from the experience. I have been very careful not to call you an anti-Semite and to give you the benefit of the doubt by assuming it was a one off and clumsy wording. However, by not apologising and taking it back you're making it seem as though you don't have any regrets. That's quite concerning, no?

@Nincompoopies The linked article from the Jewish Chronicle in the OP literally talks about the "anglo jewry" waving Israeli flags and signing Israeli songs...

Also from the article being discussed in this thread: "He added that the Jewish community was “haunted by the deafening silence” of international organisations and bodies who, he said, had not done enough to rebuke the actions of Hamas."

Reminder that my initial comment was in response to a question about why bother rebuking Hamas.

If we aren't allowed to discuss this then maybe the original article should be removed for antisemitism.

I was there with my partner and our ten month old. It was a lovely day and was really happy to see such a large, positive turn out. Hope still lives, in spite of the darkness.

Lots of British flags alongside the Israeli ones, which is good to see. Iranian flags too of course (the old imperial one as used by the dissidents). We are all one.

And not a single person had their face covered by a covid mask or a keffiyeh. Seems like a funny way to show that you’re ”pro-ceasefire” or “pro-Palestinian human rights” or “anti-war” by hiding your identity. Very strange. Nothing to do with holding up signs advocating for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state and chanting antisemitic slogans I suppose. I guess if I was chanting 'Sinwar, we will not let you die,' as the mob did in Malmo while at the same time bullying a 20 year old girl, I’d also be so ashamed that I too would feel the need to hide my face from the world.

Are these your friends @PearlKoala ? Because if so, then that would make sense.

Still defending your comment I see. No regrets then? Your clumsy wording got called out and instead of apologising for causing offence you're being incredibly antagonistic and doubling down. I'd suggest you stop.

There are posters here who said they were identified and ended up on a list for being at protests. I don't blame anyone for covering their faces. Somehow I don't think those at the other march would be as much at risk of ending up on that list.

Really? When there’s chants of ‘from the river to the sea’? I would hardly call that peaceful. But hey, whatever floats your boat I guess 🙄

Oh yeah, why is that?

What about when Israelis say it? Like Israeli politicians?

Netanyahu has said "from the river to the sea" in his speeches. So yeah, whatever floats your boat.

Pro Pali marches are very peaceful events. I've been to many. Never any issues. I don't cover my face.

Because the pro palestinian protests are always heavily policed. I suspect there may be a certain amount of islamophobia at play.