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The War on Gaza and the War on Free Speech
Resisting the suppression of pro-Palestine activism
On 28 October 2023, Israel imposed the first of what woul dbe many communications blackouts in Gaza, cutting off the ability of anyone inside the strip to communicate with the outside world. This thirty-four hour blackout came as Israel announced that it was expanding its ground operations inside Gaza. It was to be one of ten communications blackouts during the Gaza genocide.
Protestors around the world have been trying to stop this war. On 24 October, the tube driver for the Central Line of London’s Underground was suspended from his job and may be fired.
His crime? In a train full of passengers headed to one of the largest protests in London’s history, he led the chant “free Palestine.” The driver ask for the day off work in order to attend the protest but his request was denied. His words were full of joy and hope, and not hostile to anyone.
Transport for London (TFL), the company that runs the tube, responded swiftly. In their own words they were
urgently and thoroughly investigating the footage appearing to show a Tube driver misusing the PA system and leading chants on a Central Line train on Saturday. A driver has now been identified and suspended whilst we continue to fully investigate the incident in line with our policies and procedures.
It was later reported that the driver — who remains anonymous — was compelled to apologize privately to Jewish groups, and that unspecified disciplinary action has been taken against him. Since the driver’s identity is not public, it is not known whether he has been fired or not. The Evening Standard ominously notes: “The driver now faces an uncertain future.”
For those uninitiated into the west’s double standard on all matters relating to Palestine, the driver’s expressions of solidarity might have appeared fully in line with TFL policy.
After all, a year earlier TFL proudly announced its plan to offer for free travel to Ukrainian refugees. In March 2022, the Newport bus system in Wales painted one of its buses in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag. These expressions of solidarity were cheered by the media and politicians, with…
