Activist Mohammed El-Kurd earned cheers and applause from a crowd of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters in London on Saturday, when he called to “normalize massacres as the status quo” during a speech condemning Israel and Zionism.
Though London police have acted aggressively against so-called “hate speech” that falls outside the Left’s ideology, the late response from the U.K.’s Metropolitan Police, which included a plan to “speak” to El-Kurd, earned much criticism.
“We must normalize massacres as the status quo,” El-Kurd urged during his Saturday speech.
“The atrocities that the Israeli regime is committing in Gaza are some of the most horrific, brutal actions we will ever see in all of our lifetime,” the activist told the crowd. “This genocide is not without a culprit. Zionism is the root cause of all that is happening in Palestine … Zionism is apartheid, it’s genocide, it’s murder. It’s a racist ideology, rooted in settler expansion and racist domination. We must root it out of the world.”
“We must dezionize. Zionism is a death cult,” El-Kurd said, adding that they must “engage in tangible actions” since “language alone no longer suffices,” according to The Jerusalem Post.
Conservative parliament member and former home secretary Suella Braverman responded to El-Kurd’s comments, writing: “Over the last 99 days we’ve seen unprecedented levels of anti-semitism. Extremism & hatred normalised on our streets. And central London turned into a no-go zone for Jewish people about once a week. The plan isn’t working if this is where we are now.”
Over the last 99 days we’ve seen unprecedented levels of anti-semitism. Extremism & hatred normalised on our streets. And central London turned into a no-go zone for Jewish people about once a week.
The plan isn’t working if this is where we are now.👇
— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) January 14, 2024
Douglas Murray said he agreed with Braverman, stating Sunday in a social media post, “This man said onstage in front of a cheering crowd in London yesterday: ‘We must normalize massacres as the status quo.’ How is this terrorist allowed to say this on the streets of London. Where are you [Metropolitan Police]?”
Exactly, @SuellaBraverman. This man said onstage in front of a cheering crowd in London yesterday: "We must normalize massacres as the status quo". How is this terrorist allowed to say this on the streets of London. Where are you @metpoliceuk? https://t.co/oe3wTIxsEN
— Douglas Murray (@DouglasKMurray) January 14, 2024
The Metropolitan Police said they were “assessing” the comments and would then speak to El-Kurd.
“A video of remarks made by one of the speakers at yesterday’s protest in central London has been shared extensively online,” officials said in a statement Sunday. “Officers are aware of the remarks, the commentary surrounding them and the subsequent statements issued by the speaker. They are assessing the matter and as part of that assessment will be seeking to speak to the individual concerned. We will provide a further update in due course.”
A video of remarks made by one of the speakers at yesterday’s protest in central London has been shared extensively online.
Officers are aware of the remarks, the commentary surrounding them and the subsequent statements issued by the speaker.
They are assessing the matter and…
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) January 14, 2024
Commenters on X noted that police were present during El-Kurd’s remarks, but are only now appearing to take action. As for El-Kurd himself, he seemed unfazed by the Metropolitan Police Service’s post about him.
“Busy today, can we do tomorrow? x,” he posted.
busy today, can we do tomorrow? x https://t.co/UgXvoPbTCI
— Mohammed El-Kurd (@m7mdkurd) January 14, 2024
Murray found the police’s response disappointing but on-brand. “The problem is that the incitement on London’s streets goes all around the world while you wonder what to do, [Metro Police],” he wrote.
The problem is that the incitement on London’s streets goes all around the world while you wonder what to do, @metpoliceuk https://t.co/TLhhTGlTvO
— Douglas Murray (@DouglasKMurray) January 14, 2024
Others commented on the U.K.’s inconsistent application of laws concerning speech.
“People can be arrested for praying outside an abortion clinic while here you make it sound as if you will be telling him he’s a very naughty boy and should mind how he goes now,” one post noted. “Is it any wonder that some members of the Jewish community no longer feel safe in Central London?”
People can be arrested for praying outside an abortion clinic while here you make it sound as if you will be telling him he’s a very naughty boy and should mind how he goes now.
Is it any wonder that some members of the Jewish community no longer feel safe in Central London?
— Fr Mark Elliott Smith (@MarkElliottSmi1) January 14, 2024
On Sunday, El-Kurd tried to walk back the call for normalizing massacres, saying he misspoke.
“It is clear from the context of my speech on 13 January 2024 that I denounce massacres, murder, and genocide and that the closing of my speech was to state ‘we should NOT normalise massacres,'” he said. “I was also clearly referring to the massacres perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people. I reject the bad faith attempts to slander me as someone who would encourage or promote unlawful violence. I don’t want to waste more time on this matter, because we all should be focusing on the horrors in Gaza.”
It is clear from the context of my speech on 13 January 2024 that I denounce massacres, murder, and genocide and that the closing of my speech was to state “we should NOT normalise massacres”. I was also clearly referring to the massacres perpetrated by Israel against the…
— Mohammed El-Kurd (@m7mdkurd) January 14, 2024
Some online, however, expressed that the rest of El-Kurd’s speech aligned with his comment, which they viewed as calling for massacres of Jews. “Keep on digging – everyone saw it, heard it and recorded it so we won’t forget. tweet all you want,” one person wrote. “Your hatred runs so deep ,you’ve completely exposed yourself… You going to cry victim when there’s consequences?” another post read. “The jig is up, bud. It’s game over. You’ve exposed yourself to the world,” another said.
Ori Miller, writing on X, further reflected at length on the sentiment from El-Kurd in a post published Saturday.
“A very well-known Palestinian, who was also on Time magazine’s 100 most influential list, stands in the center of London and calls for massacres against Jews,” he wrote. “It’s not about occupation or a Palestinian state, it never was. It has always been about the right of Jews to live, and the right of the State of Israel to exist. This is the anti-Semitic ideology from the river to the sea. Unfortunately, most Palestinians support Hamas and this ideology and support the October 7 massacre. And here, he shouts it in central London without fear. He wants to massacre Jews. There will never be peace as long as the Palestinians openly declare that their goal is the destruction of Israel, as long as they focus on 48, and do not recognize Israel’s right to exist. Now people like this guy are calling for a ceasefire, but they never stop calling for intifada and massacres. They just want to do it without us being able to defend ourselves and fight back like we do now. And so many people support them, hell he shouts to massacre the Jews in London and thousands of people cheer him. Never again is literally now.”
It doesn't leave my mind for a moment.
A very well-known Palestinian, who was also on Time magazine's 100 most influential list, stands in the center of London and calls for massacres against Jews.
It's not about occupation or a Palestinian state, it never was.
It has always… https://t.co/S4eyLYlgg5— Ori Miller🇮🇱 (@orielishamiller) January 13, 2024