British Palestinians Speak of Fear and Mistrust

British Palestinians are increasingly feeling unable to speak openly about the war in Gaza, according to Sara Husseini, director of the Britain Palestine Committee. Many, she says, are also afraid to wear Palestinian symbols in the workplace or in public.

Speaking ahead of a march in London on Saturday to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, the displacement of at least 700,000 Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948, Husseini said Palestinians felt not like victims of suffering but suspects whose grief had been politicized. She argued that people from Gaza, or those with families there, face mistrust and are discouraged from speaking out publicly.

Husseini also praised the support of the British public and mass pro-Palestinian marches, saying hundreds of thousands of people had protested against the war and the actions of the British government.

Tensions are rising over the demonstrations as some politicians and Jewish organisations call for tighter restrictions on protests. Husseini rejected the label "hate marches", saying they are protests against the war and the killing of civilians.

(guardian, bak)