A new surge of antisemitism sweeping through Britain following Israel's conflict with Iran has led to UK Jews issuing an urgent warning over "brainwashing".
A recent poll found that five per cent of the British public would back Iran in the conflict - a statistic that has left members of the Jewish communities feeling increasingly vulnerable.
Shira, an Israeli citizen living in the UK, told GB News: "When I see a Palestinian flag, to me, that is not just supporting the innocent people that live in Gaza; it is supporting their Government, Hamas, which the UK has defined as a terrorist organisation.
"Also supporting the Iranian Government, which is a big supporter of both Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist organisations."
Pro-Palestinian and Iranian protests have been seen across the UK
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A study from YouGov showed five per cent of the UK population supports Iran
YouGov
The recent tensions escalated after Israel suspected Iran was just days away from developing a nuclear weapon.
That came just one day after the global nuclear energy watchdog formally declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years.
A Sheffield University student who attends pro-Palestinian marches offered a different view, laying the blame for the latest escalation on Israel.
They told GB News anonymously: "The UK needs to grow a f***ing backbone and stop Israel from committing genocide and killing people."
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has also raised concerns about a rise in antisemitism in the UK.
A spokesman for the organisation told GB News: "The Jewish community is particularly alert to the immediate threat posed here at home by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - a paramilitary force active worldwide that answers directly to Iran's radical Islamist regime."
A study conducted by YouGov shows that five per cent of the British population support Iran, with six per cent believing Iran is "generally a friendly rival to Britain".
Political activist and founder of Iran Front, Vahid Beheshti, spent 72 days on hunger strike outside the Foreign Office in London campaigning for the IRGC to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
He told GB News of his belief that the "youth in the West are being brainwashed and radicalised", which has created this support for "extremist ideology".
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An Iranian flag being held by a pro-Palestine supporter
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Pro-Palestine protesters hold up signs stating 'don't attack Iran'
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Beheshti explained: "It is important to clarify that these are not the supporters of Iran. Rather, they are the supporters of the Islamic Republic.
"It is concerning as these are the result of the works of the regime over the last 35 years or so, where the extremist ideology which took over Iran 46 years ago is here on British soil right now.
"We warned against these over and over again. It is the naivety and the incompetence of our Governments that led us to this point by not taking our warnings seriously."
Dr Alan Mendoza, from the think tank, the Henry Jackson Society, agreed and claimed that those in the UK who support Iran are "expressing their approval of a regime that promotes global terrorism and wants to develop nuclear weapons illegally".
Shira believes that there is a danger of people expressing threats to the Jewish community when they "start supporting legitimate terrorist organisations".
She said: "When you have free speech, everyone can say their opinions everywhere. I think it becomes worrying when the support goes beyond just caring for innocent civilians, protesting against violence and war culture in general, and it starts supporting legitimate terrorist organisations.
"To me personally, that is where I draw the line. It is not just protesting against human rights; it is protesting for and rooting for legit terrorist organisations."
Between January and June 2024, the Community Security Trust recorded 1,978 antisemitic incidents across the UK - a sharp rise of more than 1,000 compared to the same period the previous year.
Isaac Zarfati from the Stand With Us organisation added that there is a "silver lining" in the fact that support for Iran is only five per cent.
'Iran's time is over' - Dr Alan Mendoza shuts down Fahima Mahomed's argument against Israel's military action
Israel has been striking Iran as tensions escalate in the Middle East
REUTERS
Zarfati told GB News: "It's concerning [the support for Iran] and highlights the urgent need to diversify sources of information and encourage people to consume news from multiple perspectives.
"It's troubling, especially considering that by the second day of the war, Iran was already threatening to strike UK targets."
This was explained by Mendoza , who told the People's Channel: "MI5 told us last year that there had been 20 Iranian terror plots in the UK since 2022, and we have, of course, seen more since.
"Supporting such a regime is, therefore, nothing short of insanity."
Beheshti and the CAA believe the IRGC should be proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK Government, with Beheshti suggesting it is "the duty of Great Britain to help achieve a historic victory".
He said: "The UK should definitely get involved, as this is not a war for Israel or the people of Iran alone. This is a precise military operation, the success of which will benefit the entire world, particularly the UK.
"Both the current and former Home Secretaries stated that the IRGC and the Islamic Republic pose a grave danger to our safety and security here in Britain.
"Therefore, remaining silent during this historic moment is not something that I would advise the British Government."
An Iranian flag being waved at a pro-Palestine protest
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Missiles launched from Iran are intercepted as seen from Tel AvivREUTERSThe CAA has written to Home Secretaries of two successive Governments stating: "The IRGC is not just a threat to Jews, but to Britain itself, as our security chiefs have repeatedly warned. We cannot wait another day - the Government must proscribe the IRGC now."
However, a YouGov poll showed 49 per cent oppose the UK defending Israel by assisting in the shooting down of missiles and drones from Iran.
Since October 7 - when 1,200 people were killed, 251 hostages were taken, and 53 remain hostage to this day - violence has continued to break out across the Middle East.
More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed, and more than two million have been displaced, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Air raid sirens have been heard across Tel Aviv and Israel in the past week, with hundreds of missiles being launched from Tehran.
Shira, whose family is still in Israel, explained the impact it is having on the country.
She said: "The whole country is basically shut down at the moment. It's kind of similar to the Covid lockdown. Most of the workplaces are closed, and only essential workers are working at the moment.
"Everyone is just really scared. It's very tense and confusing; people do not know how long it will go on. It is heartbreaking to see my parents sending me pictures from the bomb shelter at 4am, with my dog, just terrified and just praying that no missile will hit their home."
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