As the ceasefire deal drifts further out of reach due to the dispute over the Philadelphi Corridor, Western governments are ramping up their media and activism crackdowns. From the detention of UK-based journalists Richard Medhurst and Sarah Wilkinson to the FBI’s raid on former Marine Intelligence officer Scott Ritter’s home and the U.S. Marshals’ questioning of Jewish activist Jacob Burger upon his return from a humanitarian trip to Egypt, we delve into the evolving information landscape. Join us as we explore the increasing censorship and scrutiny surrounding Israel and the United States’ foreign policy.
The Jerusalem Post wrote last week that “Anti-Israel activist Sarah Wilkinson was arrested by British police on Thursday, according to the Beirut-based outlet to which she is a contributor. The Lebanese MENA Uncensored said that its writer Wilkinson was arrested for “supporting the Palestinian resistance.” Combat Antisemitism Movement said on social media that Wilkinson had praised October 7 as “incredible” and wished Hamas “Godspeed.”
It appears that Keir Starmer’s internal changes within the Labour Party may have extended into the arrests of pro-Palestinian supporters, journalists, and activists, with critics suggesting that Britain’s Prime Minister is attempting to frame his opponents as “supporters of terrorism.”
The recent arrest of Sarah Wilkinson follows the earlier arrest of journalist Richard Medhurst, both of whom were charged under Section 12 of Britain’s Terrorism Act. The act’s language has been criticized for its broad scope, which allows for the possibility of charging individuals for a broad range of activities. For example, a person could be charged if they: (a) express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organization, and (b) in doing so, are reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed may be encouraged to support the proscribed organization.
This raises concerns, particularly within the context of Palestine. For instance, UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/38/17 (22/11/1983) reaffirmed “the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for their independence, territorial integrity, national unity, and liberation from colonial domination, apartheid, and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle.” In late July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel is operating as an apartheid occupation.
While Sarah Wilkinson did post on October 10, “Hamas airforce publish their incredible infiltration by air into the illegal Israeli settlements in the Gaza envelope – #GodSpeed,” these remarks could be interpreted in various ways. There should be an equal application of the law, and no one should be imprisoned solely for being galvanized by violence. If such a principle were to be applied, it would also need to encompass supporters of Israel who have espoused a striking zeal for Israel’s ruthless prosecution of Gaza’s civilian population.
Join us tonight for an in-depth discussion on how the West defines terrorism, the contrasting legal protections for free speech and censorship in the U.S. and U.K., and what this ongoing government and media crackdown signals about the broader implications of U.S. and Israeli policy in Palestine.
Greg Stoker is a former US Army Ranger with a background in human intelligence collection and analysis. After serving four combat deployments in Afghanistan, he studied anthropology and International Relations at Columbia University. He is currently a military and geopolitical analyst and a social media “influencer,” though he hates the term.
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