Home secretary Suella Braverman has called on the cops to “use the full force of the law” against displays of support for Hamas. Braverman denounced anyone publicly celebrating the success of Palestinian attacks on Israel.

The British state has Armed Forces Day to remember the actions of its military in the past and today.

And after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it suited the Tories to say it supported self‑determination against oppressors and the right to fight militarily against invaders.

But when Palestinians demand these rights, our government says they are terrorists.

Braverman said, “Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews.”

People aren’t stirring up antisemitism. They are rightly cheering on the righteous resistance of those who have suffered 75 years of oppression.

It’s Braverman who is one of Britain’s biggest purveyors of racist ideas and who stirs up “other racists” on the far right to attack refugees.

Socialists and trade unionists must oppose all attempts to crack down on pro-Palestine demonstrations or restrict free speech on Palestine—including support for Hamas.

There will now be constant accusations of pro-Palestine activists being antisemitic Except for a tiny number of examples, this is vile slander.

Remember that just two weeks ago, the entire Canadian parliament, along with prime minister and the German ambassador, gave a rousing standing ovation for the Ukrainian Yaroslav Hunka.

Hunka is a former member of the Nazi Waffen-SS, which participated in the massacre of Jews in the Holocaust.

West backs imperialist ally

Following the attack Israel’s imperialist allies quickly asserted their support, whatever the human cost.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin promised that the US would provide Israel with “what it needs to defend itself”. Joe Biden added that US support for Israel was “unwavering”.

As journalist Tony Karon tweeted, “The racist contempt for Palestinian life that forms the core of US policy on Israel offers no path to liberty, dignity and justice for Palestinians, who are systematically brutalised every day. And then the US calls their resistance ‘unprovoked’.”

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack by the Palestinian resistance. He said, “France stands in solidarity with Israelis and the Israelis, committed to their security and the right to defend themselves.”

Tory foreign secretary James Cleverly said Britain “will always support Israel’s right to defend itself”. Cleverly recently told the Conservative Party conference, “We believe in self determination, and we always will.”