UK bars entry of Palestinian-American activist accused of antisemitic rhetoric

Palestinian-American activist Moath Hamzeh announced on Wednesday that he has been banned from entering the United Kingdom after the Home Office revoked his Electronic Travel Authorization, reportedly on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good.

Hamzeh, who is based in Jersey City, New Jersey, was appointed in October 2024 as a trustee of Sun of Freedom, where he also serves as director of development and vice-chair. The charity was registered as a charitable incorporated organization in the UK in January, with a mandate to relieve financial hardship and deliver humanitarian relief to displaced Palestinians in the Palestinian territories.

He had been due to travel to London to speak at a Sun of Freedom fundraising event on November 6 and at a documentary screening at Palestine House on November 14. In a video posted to Instagram, Hamzeh said his authorization was revoked shortly before his scheduled flight and claimed he was banned on grounds that are blatantly discriminatory, "without any reasoning or rationale or any means to question or appeal the decision."

Hamzeh contrasted his exclusion with the treatment of British citizens who served in the Israeli military, saying: "We live in a world where over 2,000 British citizens who served in the Israeli occupation forces during the genocide of Gaza, actual war criminals, have faced zero restrictions, investigations, sanctions, or bans from the country, leaving them to roam freely in the streets of the UK." He said he would take part in the London event virtually and declared that "there is lots more to come."

The Home Office move followed a report submitted in October by UK Lawyers for Israel, which drew on findings by online watchdog GnasherJew. The findings, published in September and passed to the Home Office and the Charity Commission, allege that Hamzeh posted antisemitic conspiracy theories, dehumanizing language and threats of violence across his social media accounts, including an X account that has since been suspended for violating platform rules.

According to GnasherJew, Hamzeh promoted conspiracy theories in a February video linking the Israeli flag to captions about control of global banks, Western leaders and media, and major attacks, and stated that "Zionism is a cancer to society" that must be excised. In an August Instagram reel, he allegedly said "Israel does not exist, nor does it have a right to," compared Israelis to Nazis and concluded: "You can run, but we will find you." The watchdog also cited posts alleging covert Jewish control over US law enforcement and a video referencing "Jewish supremacist tentacles."

UK Lawyers for Israel also raised concerns with the Charity Commission about Hamzeh's commercial partnership with Warrior Ink Apparel, a Florida-founded clothing brand whose founder has allegedly posted statements supporting Hamas, including a February 2025 post featuring imagery of deceased Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Hamzeh collaborated with the brand on the "Mo Hamz Collection," with select proceeds designated for Sun of Freedom, and the charity promoted the line, including shirts reading "ZIONISM IS RACISM IS FASCISM IS TERRORISM IS ISRAEL," across its website and social media pages.

The Charity Commission confirmed that Sun of Freedom is subject to an ongoing regulatory compliance case and that the allegations will be examined as part of that assessment. Following Hamzeh's announcement of the ban, UK Lawyers for Israel submitted a further request urging his removal as a trustee.

In a statement to The Jerusalem Post, Hamzeh said: "This is further evidence that the British government is colluding with supporters of apartheid to silence voices against Israeli genocide." He added: "We simply will not allow this racist decision to stand, which allows Israeli soldiers who have participated in genocide to roam London freely while I, a Palestinian-American advocate for his people's rights, am prevented from attending a fundraiser for a charity that provides lifesaving aid to Gaza."

A UK Lawyers for Israel spokesperson called the exclusion "a welcome step in protecting the public from extremist rhetoric and antisemitic hatred" and urged the Charity Commission to act, saying someone barred on public-good grounds "should not be entrusted with the leadership of a British charity." GnasherJew told the Post it welcomed the decision, saying its investigation documented rhetoric that "was not legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy." Sun of Freedom did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.