Mayor Sadiq Khan Accused of Echoing Hamas Propaganda by Israeli Embassy After Eid Video

London’s Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has found himself at the centre of controversy after the Israeli embassy accused him of echoing “Hamas propaganda” in a video message marking Eid. The criticism came after Khan failed to directly condemn Hamas while speaking out against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The fallout began on March 30, when Khan posted a video celebrating Eid al-Fitr and reflecting on the end of Ramadan. The video touched on several issues, one of which was the suffering of Muslims in Gaza due to Israel’s ongoing military operations. Khan cited a figure provided by the Gaza Ministry of Health, stating: “More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s ongoing military campaign, including more than 15,000 children.”

In the same video, Khan went on to say, “These betrayals of humanity should weigh heavily on our collective conscience. But I’m proud that, while the international community has chosen to avert its gaze, Londoners have not”, reported by the Express.

It was these comments that led the Israeli embassy to accuse the Mayor of parroting Hamas rhetoric. They took issue with Khan’s failure to mention or condemn the terrorist group, Hamas, and his omission of the 59 hostages currently being held in Gaza. The embassy also disputed the death toll Khan referenced, claiming it was based on “Hamas propaganda” rather than verified facts.

While the Gaza Ministry of Health figures have been widely used by various international organisations, including the BBC and the UN, Israel has consistently disputed these numbers. The embassy, in their statement, pointed out that Khan’s message did not acknowledge the horrific attacks by Hamas, calling for the release of the hostages held by the group.

A spokesman for the embassy said, “Firstly, we would like to emphasise to Mr Khan that the war is a result of the brutal and horrific attack by Hamas, a proscribed terror organisation in the UK, which was imposed on Israel on Oct 7.” The embassy also expressed concern that Khan failed to mention the group’s actions, stating: “It is alarming that, throughout the message, there is no mention of Hamas or any condemnation of terrorism.”

They continued: “On that day, among the many innocent men, women, and children murdered, Hamas also murdered over 20 Muslim Israelis and kidnapped an additional six.” The embassy highlighted the actions of Hamas militants, including their killing of Gazans protesting against them, such as Uday al-Rabbay, who was tortured and murdered after he took part in a protest against the group.

In response, a spokesman for Khan said that the Mayor had always strongly condemned Hamas’ actions. “The Mayor has repeatedly conveyed his outrage at attacks by Hamas on Israel and has strongly condemned these acts of terrorism,” the spokesman stated.

“He is deeply saddened by the loss of all lives, and continues to support calls for a permanent ceasefire.” However, despite this clarification, the exchange has left Khan facing sharp criticism over his handling of the sensitive topic.