London Mayor Sparks Outcry Over October 7 Remarks

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London’s Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, has drawn sharp criticism for using a memorial statement for the October 7 Hamas massacre to condemn Israel, sparking a firestorm of backlash. In his message marking three years since the attack, Khan described the atrocity as something the world must never forget, offered condolences to the grieving families, and pledged to fight antisemitism in the British capital. However, he then shifted focus to Gaza, calling for more pressure on Israel to preserve the two-state solution.

International Response and Jewish Community Concerns

The Israeli embassy in London condemned the mayor for tainting a day of mourning by targeting Israel, emphasizing the importance of solidarity with Jewish communities that have faced heightened fear and hatred. Diplomats noted that London Jews were marking the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, and anti-Israel hate marches were set to take place on the same day. Critics argued that Khan failed to comfort the Jewish community, instead prioritizing Gaza over the memory of the October 7 victims.

Public and Political Reactions

Alex Hear, chair of Labour Against Antisemitism, criticized Khan for not giving voice to the Jewish community on this day of mourning. Gavin Stollar of Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel highlighted the 1,200 victims of Hamas’ attack, noting that there are 364 other days for commentary. The Campaign Against Antisemitism accused Khan of making his statement ‘worse than nothing,’ citing polling that 85% of British Jews are unhappy with his handling of the issue since the 2023 attack.

Historical Context and Previous Criticisms

This is not the first time Khan has faced criticism from London’s Jewish community. In March, he faced backlash after a suspected antisemitic arson attack torched four Jewish ambulances. While he called the attack ‘cowardly,’ critics dismissed his response as insincere. Columnist Melanie Phillips accused Khan of hypocrisy, pointing out his past support for anti-Israel marches that included chants calling for the killing of Jews. Conservative London Assembly Member Neil Garratt noted Khan’s failure to address these issues directly.

Controversial Stance on Antisemitism

In October 2025, Khan told the Assembly he did not consider the slogan ‘from the river to the sea’ antisemitic, arguing that context matters. However, Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly called this view absurd, while Reform UK’s Alex Wilson argued the slogan amounts to a call for the elimination of Jews. Lord Walney, a former government adviser, stated the slogan’s demand for a ‘free’ Palestine means free of Jews.

Source: Daily Wire

Written by

Connor Davis