London Mayor Criticized for Eid Message Singling Out Israel

London Mayor Sadiq Khan sparked backlash this week after using his Eid al-Fitr greeting to sharply criticize Israel while making no mention of Hamas, the terrorist group responsible for the October 7 massacre that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

In his March 29 message marking the end of Ramadan, Khan lamented the “appalling suffering and killing” in Sudan and “Palestine,” which he called “betrayals of humanity.” He claimed that “more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza,” including “more than 15,000 children,” referencing unverified figures from Hamas’s health ministry.

British Jewish groups quickly condemned Khan’s remarks. The Jewish Leadership Council, an umbrella organization representing British Jewry, said it was “disappointed” that the mayor used a holiday greeting meant to foster “unity and fellowship” to comment on a deeply divisive international conflict. The group noted that the war has coincided with an unprecedented surge in antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom.

Critics also noted the mayor’s failure to mention Hamas’s role in initiating the conflict through the October 7 terror attack, in which 1,200 Israelis were murdered and over 250 taken hostage. Hamas remains designated as a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Khan said the mayor had “repeatedly condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel” and was “deeply saddened by the loss of all lives.” The statement reiterated his call for a permanent ceasefire but did not directly address the omission of Hamas in his Eid message.

Khan’s remarks come amid growing frustration among Jewish communities over perceived political double standards that fuel antisemitism and target Israel while excusing or ignoring the crimes of terror groups like Hamas.

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