Gaza Herald – The British government has banned Palestinian-American designer and activist Mo Hamzeh from entering the country to speak at a charity event for Palestine. Hamzeh, vice-chair and trustee of the Sun of Freedom charity, was scheduled to address its Gaza fundraiser in London on Friday. He expected to fly on Wednesday but found his Electronic Travel Authorisation cancelled despite prior approval.
Hamzeh shared a screenshot of a UK government message stating: “We are satisfied that your presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good.” The advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel submitted a report to the Home Office on 19 October, calling the ban a welcome step in protecting the public from extremist rhetoric and antisemitic hatred.
Hamzeh told Middle East Eye he is launching a legal challenge against the baseless decision. He stated he is the latest victim of Britain’s targeting of Palestinian advocates. Chris Philp, shadow home secretary, urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to ban Hamzeh on 30 October. Philp claimed Hamzeh’s clothing line includes items displaying extremist slogans and symbols incompatible with UK values.
One T-shirt features text equating Israel’s actions in Gaza with those of Nazis and criticizing western support. Another displays an inverted red triangle, which Philp claimed is closely associated with Hamas. Hamzeh strongly denied this association, asserting the triangle represents Palestinian statehood. He noted that while Israeli soldiers are free in London, he is barred from attending a fundraiser providing food and water to Gaza families.
The charity event, titled “Palestine: A Journey Through Heritage and Hope,” described itself as an immersive evening celebrating Palestinian culture. Hamzeh, based in New Jersey, is from a family expelled during the 1948 Nakba. Sun of Freedom previously rejected antisemitism and terrorism. A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment on individual cases but affirmed commitment to tackling antisemitism.
This follows earlier bans on American commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur. UK Lawyers for Israel has been active since 2011 in pressuring organizations criticizing Israeli policies. The European Legal Support Centre’s database lists the group repeatedly as an initiating actor in repression of Palestine solidarity activism, creating a chilling environment for lawful activities.
Hamzeh said he advocates for freedom and speaks out against occupation and apartheid. He described his punishment as silencing speech aided by western governments. He vowed to pursue every legal means to overturn what he termed an unjust and racist decision.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
