London School of Economics is accused of “providing a platform for Hamas propaganda” by hosting a book launch amid Home Office warnings.
Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to Britain, urged one of the UK’s leading university to cancel a talk on Monday claiming it would “grow support” for terrorists among students.
Understanding Hamas: And Why It Matters by Helena Cobban and Rami Khouri describes the Palestinian militant group - a proscribed organisation in Britain since 2021 - as “a widely misunderstood movement whose involvement in a just resolution of the Israel/Palestine conflict will be critical”.
In a letter to LSE president Larry Kramer, Ms Hotovely says: “I worry that by promoting such a book, which sympathises with and justifies the survival and existence of Hamas, will only serve to grow support for a brutal terror organisation among your students and beyond”.
She expressed hope that Mr Kramer you reconsider allowing the event to go ahead, the Sunday Telegraph reports.
The Home Office has already prewarned speakers at the event that they will face the “full force of the law” if they praise Hamas.
Ms Hotovely drew Mr Kramer’s attention to one passage in the book which appeared to whitewash Hamas’s murderous October 7 attacks, where 1,200 people were killed in southern Israel.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This event at LSE is an outrageous apology for terror.”
However, a spokesman for the university told the Standard: “Free speech and freedom of expression underpins everything we do at LSE.
“Students, staff and visitors are strongly encouraged to discuss and debate the most pressing issues around the world.
The LSE must immediately cancel the launch event of a pro-Hamas book.
— Stop The Hate UK (@StopTheHate_UK) March 9, 2025
This clip shows one of the authors telling people to 'be in solidarity with Hamas'.
The LSE (@LSEnews ) should be held accountable for helping whitewash the crimes of Hamas and platforming their supporters.… pic.twitter.com/NmNOG8i4PA
“We host an enormous number of events each year, covering a wide range of viewpoints and positions.
“We have clear policies in place to ensure the facilitation of debates in these events and enable all members of our community to refute ideas lawfully and to protect individual's rights to freedom of expression within the law. This is formalised in our Code of Practice on Free Speech and in our Ethics Code.”
A Home Office spokesman added to Jewish News: “National security remains our top priority.
“Hamas is a proscribed organisation and it is an offence to be a member of, invite or express support for them, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine.
“We would urge anyone who plans to take part in an event that discusses Hamas to seriously consider their actions and any views they plan to publicly express.
“While it is a matter for the police to determine whether an offence has been committed, and police routinely monitor for breaches in terrorism law, anyone found to have committed an offence will face the full force of the law.”
