A Londoner Proclaims His Support For Hamas On His Back

The other day, someone in London wanted to show his support for the terror group Hamas. So he strolled through the center of the city, along Oxford Street, the back of his shirt emblazoned with the word “Hamas” and the number “7” — a reference to October 7, and the atrocities committed by Hamas operatives on that day. More on his offensive display — which also happens to be a criminal offense in the U.K. — can be found here.

A Jewish man said he was left feeling ‘shocked’ and ‘very offended’ after spotting a football fan wearing a Manchester United shirt with the word ‘Hamas’ on the back, alongside the number seven, while walking through the capital.

The dark-haired man was snapped casually walking along near Oxford Circus tube station in London on Friday afternoon sporting the ‘Hamas 7’ Red Devils jersey.

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Met Police has confirmed they are actively looking to identify the man wearing a top with ‘an offensive message’.

Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.

Membership and expressing support for Hamas is an illegal act and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Wearing a shirt with “Hamas 7” painted in bold on the back surely qualifies as an “expression of support” for Hamas, hence illegal and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

He [the Jewish man] said: ‘I was walking to collect some shoes and saw this guy. I thought it was pretty unbelievable – no one was reacting or seemed to notice.

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Many people are indifferent to the anguish felt by Jews worldwide because of the October 7 attacks. Others may have been afraid to call the man out; if he so publicly supports Hamas, is he not likely to be violent himself? Still others, of course, may have shared his enthusiasm for Hamas. Whatever the reason, only this one Jewish man, startled by the man’s shirt with “Hamas 7” written on it, did what he could: ‘”I followed him for about two minutes and took photos. I think he was aware I was taking photos of him, but didn’t seem to care.”

He risked being set upon by the man in question who, he was sure, sensed what he was doing — following close behind and taking pictures — but the man simply continued, at a regular pace, to walk through the center of the city, sure that no one would stop or attack him. The Jewish man who had taken the photos promptly reported the “Hamas” supporter to the police, and delivered to them the photographs he had taken, which will aid the police in their continuing search.

The man questioned whether Hamas could have been a surname, but believes this is unlikely.

He added: ‘Even if it was his surname, surely he would have been aware of the association.

‘Wearing the name of a terrorist organisation is really shocking, I was very offended, especially as the number seven could have been in reference to the October 7 attacks.’

Of course that number was a reference to that Hamas attack on October 7. He wanted to declare his support for Hamas and its deeds in the most offensive possible way.

The shirt was a Man[chester] United shirt and looked to be newly printed.

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The onlooker said he reported the matter to police and was told officers in the area would be notified and keep a lookout.

Hamas is the terrorist organisation responsible for killing around 1,200 people and taking 252 citizens hostage on October 7, 2023.

In a statement provided to MailOnline, the Met Police said: ‘On Friday, 24 May police received a call from a member of the public reporting that a man was walking in Oxford Street, W1 wearing a football shirt with an offensive message on it.

‘Enquiries are under way to try and identify the man….

There are enough photographs of him, from the back and side, so that the Met Police are likely to find him. An example should be made of this offender. He should be charged with the law that makes expressing support for a terrorist group — membership is not necessary — a crime, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. In the U.K., Hamas has been officially designated as a terror group. He probably thought nothing would come of his behavior or, were there to be some punishment meted out, he no doubt assumed it would come in the form of a warning or at most, of a prison sentence of a year at most. Let this case be exemplary, and the judge come down hard, with a 3-to-5 year sentence. Word will travel fast about this, all over the U.K., and especially among Muslims. Those open expressions of support for Hamas will disappear in a New York minute.