A fierce debate has erupted after a pro-Palestinian supporter was recorded spitting on a poster advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in north London, prompting accusations of “pure visceral hatred.”
The startling video captures a young woman, her dark hair streaked with blonde, repeatedly spitting at the poster before attempting to remove it from an advertising board located outside Hendon Central underground station.
Upon realizing she was being filmed, the woman defiantly flipped her middle finger at the poster, adorned with a yellow ribbon, and vocally lashed out, exclaiming to onlookers: “F*** Israel, f*** every dirty nasty Israeli piece of s***.”
This incident unfolded shortly after a ceasefire agreement facilitated the release of the final 20 hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
According to the agreement, Hamas was to return the remains of 28 individuals; however, they have only managed to deliver 15, citing challenges in locating the remaining 13.
The deadly attacks on Israel in 2023 resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages being taken.
The yellow ribbon is the symbol of the ‘Bring Them Home’ campaign for the hostages who were taken by Hamas terrorists and held captive in Gaza.
Metropolitan Police confirmed it is now investigating the incident, which occurred on Sunday around 11pm, as a hate crime.
A pro-Palestinian supporter has been accused of ‘pure visceral hatred’ after she was filmed repeatedly spitting on a poster calling for the release of Israeli hostages in north London
Shocking footage shows the young brunette woman with blonde highlights hawking her saliva at the graphic on an advertising display outside Hendon Central underground station
In the full video, which has been viewed by Daily Mail, the woman turns several times on the Jewish bystanders filming the incident, one of whom has a South African accent.
She says to the bystander: ‘F*** every dirty coloniser, including every Israeli and all you f***ing, what are you, South African? You sound it.’
The pro-Palestinian supporter, who can be heard referring to herself as ‘indigenous’ continues to spit at the poster and make crude gestures, before telling those filming her: ‘I love all Jewish people, my love [is] to real Jews, not dirty Israeli pieces of s**t.’
Speaking to Daily Mail, a witness who does not wish to be named, said the incident amounted to ‘nothing more than hatred’.
He had spotted the woman scraping away at the sticker and believed initially she was trying to remove an anti-Semitic sticker – before realising what she was actually doing.
The man said: ‘In the climate we live in, as Jews in England, it was certainly not the first time something like this has happened and it’s not the worst thing we’ve seen.
‘But it was a shock and very difficult in the moment to know what to do.
‘That’s life as a Jew in London today.
Met Police said it was investigating the incident outside Hendon Central station as a hate crime
‘We’re lost for words. All the people in our community, regardless of where they are on the spectrum in terms of religious practice, we are all feeling the same.
‘It’s pure visceral hatred, isn’t it? I mean, there’s no other reason for it. What other reason could there be? She certainly didn’t have anything to say about the hostages – living or dead.’
Advocacy group Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was aware of the incident.
A spokesperson said: ‘This video is appalling. Unfortunately, it’s also emblematic of deeply troubling trends among young people: almost half of British 18 to 24-year-olds are uncomfortable around supporters of Israel, 42 per cent believe Israel can ‘get away with anything’ because its supporters control the media, and 10 per cent have a favourable view of Hamas.
‘The authorities – from educational and cultural institutions to law enforcement need to wake up to this alarming rise in hatred and take meaningful steps to combat it.’
Met Police said it was investigating the incident.
A spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of the video and the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
‘Officers are carrying out enquiries and have arranged to meet with the victims.
‘There have been no arrests. Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 7476/20Oct.’
