London Hospitals Ban Pro-Palestine Symbols Amid Pressure from Pro-Israel Lawyers’ Group

London (Quds News Network)- Staff at some of London’s largest NHS hospitals have reportedly been banned from wearing pro-Palestine symbols following pressure from a pro-Israel lawyers’ group, claiming that such symbols are “increasing threats to the safety of Jewish people.”

According to The Telegraph on Saturday, Barts Health NHS Trust announced the decision after UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) claimed growing numbers of Israeli and Jewish patients were reporting their “distress at seeing clinical and medical staff wearing provocative slogans and badges in Palestinian colours.”

The trust’s ban will apply to its five hospitals: St Bart’s, Mile End, Newham, Royal London and Whipps Cross.

The UKLFI raised the case of a Jewish woman who attended in January a Whipps Cross for a caesarean and saw three members of staff wearing pro-Palestine badges in a 24-hour period. Two wore “Free Palestine” badges on their lanyards and one had a watermelon symbol, a reference to the Palestinian colours, pinned to their uniform.

The woman claimed: “The display of these symbols made me feel extremely vulnerable, particularly given the level of anti-Semitic activity we’re all witnessing via the extreme elements of online activity and at the UK-wide marches.”

“If nothing else, it was a time – for one day – when I wanted to shut out the outside world and was instead faced with a reminder of the increasing threats against the safety of Jewish people, even if not perpetrated by these individuals.”

Following the group’s pressure, Whipps Cross said it had carried out a review of its dress code and would no longer allow the display of political symbols.

Amanjit Jhund, the chief executive of Whipps Cross University Hospital, wrote in a letter to UKLFI: “The revised policy will be going live this week and will say: Our staff are expected not to be wearing or displaying political symbols, eg badges, lanyards, or clothing with political slogans, ideology or national flag.”

In recent months, there has been growing escalation in the UK surrounding the suppression of pro-Palestine symbols, flags, and activism, particularly following Israel’s 15-month assault on Gaza.

The actions to suppress pro-Palestine expressions have been met with criticism from Palestinian solidarity groups, activists, and some human rights organizations, who said that these measures stifle free speech, suppress expression, and limit the right to protest. Activists contend that such actions are part of a broader pattern of silencing Palestine advocacy.