Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit has uncovered a post by a prominent Palestine Action activist which appears to glorify terrorists.
The post, published on Paul K Shortt’s social media account, appears to glorify the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military unit of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation. It reads: “Respect existence OR EXPECT RESISTANCE!!! Glory to the Al-Qassam Brigades.”
Mr Shortt, 52, was among a number of Palestine Action agitators who last year received suspended 23-month jail sentences in relation to convictions for burglary and damaging property at Elbit Systems in Bristol, an armaments company.
He was also required to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and pay a surcharge and compensation to the victim.
He has also reportedly been referred to the police in relation to a post featuring his hand, tattooed with an inverted red triangle and holding a handgun. It is not clear if the handgun is real or not.
The inverted red triangle symbol has been used by some anti-Israel activists to signal support for proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hamas, inspired by the appearance of the symbol in Hamas propaganda videos to indicate targets for attack.
He has also used what we honestly believe, on the evidence available, to be an alias to post material that appears to be supportive of Hamas.
Plenty of further inflammatory and potentially illegal material has also appeared on these social media accounts.
There are also several posts comparing Israel to Nazis on these accounts and a further account that we honestly believe, on the evidence available, belongs to the same individual. According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.
Other posts read “All guns against the enemy,” and “Glory to the fighting arms.”
We are reporting Mr Shortt to Counter Terrorism Policing and will look to bring a private prosecution if necessary to secure justice.
