Israeli academic Haim Bresheeth arrested in London after speech at pro-Palestine demo

A pro-Palestinian Israeli professor was arrested in London under an anti-terrorism law on Friday, after speaking at a pro-Palestine demonstration in the UK capital.

Haim Bresheeth, a renowned academic, was accused of "hate speech" by the Metropolitan Police, after speaking at a demonstration organised by the International Jewish anti-Zionist Network, where he reportedly called for the deportation of Israel's ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely.

A video shared by Al Jazeera, Bresheeth's colleagues and other activists showed the academic being arrested on Friday evening by London’s Metropolitan Police much to his disbelief, and of other activists around him.

A police officer can be heard saying: "Earlier today, you made a speech that … [], so you are under arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 for making hate speech."

Bresheeth, also a filmmaker and author who currently teaches at London's SOAS University, then replies: "A hate speech? I made a hate speech?".

The academic then questioned if the police were mistaken, and whether the alleged hate speech was made during the demonstration, which took place outside Hotovely's residence in Swiss Cottage. 

Bresheeth, alongside other pro-Palestinian activists, were reportedly demanding the deportation of Hotovely, who has gone on to deny many of the atrocities carried out by the Israeli military on Palestinians during the deadly war in Gaza, in several media appearances.

Hotovely has previously expressed support for the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, has opposed a two-state solution recognising Palestine and said every building in Gaza was a "legitimate target" due to the alleged presence of Hamas.

In January this year, a petition calling for her to be expelled from the UK garnered 100,000 signatures.

The police officer can then be seen continuing to arrest Bresheeth, who defended his actions and said "I don’t understand why you are stopping me?".

Activists surrounding Bresheeth can be heard accusing the police officers of "antisemitism" and demanding the officers to state what he had said that was considered "hate speech".

The professor is also the founder of the Jewish Network for Palestine (JNP), a UK-based NGO campaigning to bring together Jews and non-Jews over their support for the Palestinian cause to act on "lies of the Israel lobby", as well as countering Zionism.

The NGO confirmed that his case is being referred to the Crown Court and that the ordeal has taken a toll on his mental well-being.

The New Arab has contacted the London Metropolitan Police for comment.

The JNP said that Bresheeth wants "everyone to know he is feeling resilient in the knowledge that Palestinians are enduring much worse".

"They will not break us," the JNP quoted Bresheeth in an official statement.

Bresheeth, the son of Holocaust survivors, has been a vocal critic of Israel’s treatment towards Palestinians over the years.

Speaking to The New Arab earlier this year, the academic described Israel’s actions in war-hit Gaza, where at least 43,374 Palestinians have been killed as of Monday, as beyond fascism and "akin to Nazism".

The UK, like many Western countries, has cracked down on pro-Palestinian solidarity and protests since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October last year. Scores have been arrested since, while Conservative politicians have made several remarks criticising the protests.