The planned return of an “intimidating” Gaza protest to the heart of a heavily Jewish area in north London – previously banned from the location by the police – has prompted outrage in the community.
The Board of Deputies and Stop the Hate UK are organising a counter-protest against the demonstration at 5.30pm outside Swiss Cottage tube station, where previous rallies allegedly saw support for Hamas and protesters committing public order offences.
The protest, organised by the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN), had been taking place every Friday since October 7, 2023, not far from from two synagogues. But following the JC’s report – which uncovered over 60 alleged criminal offences at the protests – and having received a number of impact statements, the Metropolitan Police imposed restrictions on the controversial rally in February.
The Met announced that from Friday 28 February, the demonstration had to take place within a designated area in King’s Cross, away from the heavily Jewish area of Swiss Cottage.
This week, the anti-Israel organisers announced on Instagram that their “weekly picket” was back, however. “We want the Israeli ambassador out of our neighbourhood,” the caption said.
In a statement, Senior Vice President of the Board of Deputies Adrian Cohen called on the Jewish community and allies to form a counter-demonstration.
“This is not legitimate protest — it is targeted provocation, designed to intimidate a community at its most vulnerable,” he said.
“Allowing it to return sets a dangerous precedent: that hatred can be tolerated on our streets. We call on every member of the Jewish community, and on all allies, people of faith, and anti-racism advocates, to join us in peaceful solidarity and say: Stop Racism In Swiss Cottage.”
Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, told the JC: “This protest appears to be deliberately staged in an area with synagogues on a Friday evening in order to intimidate the Jewish community.
“The weekly protest at this location was rightly moved a few months ago by the police to a less sensitive location and it should have stayed there. The police have made a mistake by allowing it back to this location."
He said he was “deeply concerned” about the “surge” in antisemitic hate.
“When we need more resources to fight hatred, Labour has hollowed out our police forces, leaving a £118 million funding black hole and putting the jobs of 1,800 frontline officers at risk this year,” he added.
“No Jewish family should have to walk to synagogue under the shadow of intimidation. This Labour government should stop giving in to activists and protect our communities.”
Today’s planned protest will return to its previous location just outside Swiss Cottage tube station, minutes away from Belsize Square Synagogue, Chabad Lubavitch of West Hampstead and close to South Hampstead United Synagogue.
Residents say that the “frightening” event has seriously disrupted their lives, forcing some to change their route to synagogue on Shabbat or stop going to shul entirely.
The JC saw evidence of suspected racially aggravated public order offences, physical assault, and the expression of support for Hamas – a proscribed terror group under UK law – at the demonstrations.
On one occasion, a Jewish counter-protester claimed to have had their foot run over. In March, an anti-Israel demonstrator was recorded calling Jews the "scum of the earth” while another was heard screaming: “Long live the resistance, glory to the resistance, intifada revolution.”
On September 20, a speaker at the demo was arrested after allegedly chanting: “I love October 7, I support an organisation beginning with H.”
A week later, a protester said: “October 7 is just one event along this long, long, long road of the struggle to freedom.”
More protesters have been caught on camera seemingly making remarks about Zionism, including one who called it “the cancer of the 21st century”, adding, “It has to be defeated, it has to be wiped out”. Another demonstrator was arrested after saying: “Terminally deranged Zionists need to be put down.”
When the Met announced conditions would be imposed on the march – after hours of meetings with the Board, Community Security Trust (CST), and Stop the Hate UK – one Jewish mother said she “cried tears of relief”.
Another local man said he looked forward to attending synagogue on Shabbat without being disturbed by the demonstrators.
The protest is organised by the UK branch of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) – a fringe group of Jewish activists who posted a video calling October 7 “resistance, not terrorism” and mourned the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a post that said: “His martyrdom is not in vain.”
Leaflets previously distributed by the group at Swiss Cottage targeted Israel’s ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, who lives locally. “Expel Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely from the UK for inciting genocide. This Friday Rosh Hashanah join our protest,” said one IJAN and Jewish Network for Palestine leaflet.
When asked whether conditions would be imposed on today’s march, a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police told the JC:
“Met Police are aware of the groups’ intentions to hold a protest in Swiss Cottage on Friday, 2 May.
“We are carefully considering a policing plan including any conditions which may be required, acknowledging the cumulative impact of protests, particularly on the Jewish community, over the past 18 months.”
The JC contacted the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network for comment.
