Protesters in Hastings have blamed the Government's ban on Palestine Action for emboldening far-right extremists who have subjected demonstrators to verbal and physical abuse. The group, which campaigns for the East Sussex town's friendship links with Al-Mawasi in Gaza, says the proscription has created a "chilling effect" that blurs the line between protest and terrorism.
Grace Lally, who helped establish the Friends of Al-Mawasi group, believes there is a "clear link" between Government action and recent incidents of abuse. She said extremists have been "empowered by a Government that says people supporting Palestine are terrorists".
Violence mars Gaza fundraising walk
Last month, multiple alleged incidents of verbal and physical abuse occurred during a fundraising walk from Hastings to Bexhill. A woman wearing a keffiyeh was pushed to the ground and called a "f****** terrorist" by a man at De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.
Richard Wistreich, a member of Jews for Justice Hastings whose father escaped Poland in the late 1930s, was repeatedly called a Nazi by Israel supporters. Both incidents from the July 20 walk were reported to Sussex Police.
Second march draws larger crowd
On Sunday, roughly 100 protesters ran a second fundraising walk from Hastings beach to Bexhill "in defiance" of the previous abuse. The demonstrators were wary of further incidents but bolstered by much greater numbers, with the vast majority of passers-by appearing supportive.
Green Party councillor Yunis Smith told protesters before the walk: "We may see some people trying to antagonise us, cause issues, trying to be abusive, aggressive, offensive, let's remember the strength, perseverance and patience that our Palestinian brothers and sisters have when we face this."
Government ban faces legal challenge
Ms Lally said the proscription of Palestine Action has emboldened far-right extremists to see "anyone who's supporting Palestine as a legitimate target". She added that the decision is being challenged in court, with permission granted for a judicial review due to its "chilling effect".
On Saturday, more than 500 people were arrested in central London for showing support for Palestine Action. The woman who was assaulted whilst wearing a keffiyeh, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the man grabbed her scarf and pulled her close before pushing her to the ground.
Town twinning amid devastation
In July, Hastings Borough Council passed a motion backing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting friendship links with Al-Mawasi. When the twinning was first established in 2022, Al-Mawasi was a rural farming and fishing town with 12,000 residents.
According to the United Nations, 425,000 displaced Palestinians were living in the area as of June 19, with protesters saying the figure is now closer to 600,000. A UN report released in June said Israel had not made "any effort" to comply with international humanitarian law regarding adequate shelter, food, water and medical care for displaced people.
Ms Lally described the council's decision to twin with Al-Mawasi as "bittersweet" given the devastation, but said it represented hope for the future. "Palestine is made up of communities of people and those people, they're not going away, they will rebuild, this will end, there will be a future for them," she said.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
