London student filmed cutting down ribbons tied in solidarity with Israeli hostages

A London student was filmed cutting down yellow ribbons tied in solidarity with Israeli hostages who have been captured by Hamas.

Members of London’s Jewish community have described the actions of the student, who cut the ribbons from a fence in Muswell Hill, as “morally repugnant.”

The Metropolitan Police said a 36-year-old woman attended a police station voluntarily on Tuesday and was interviewed under caution. The incident is being treated as racially aggravated criminal damage.

The ribbons, tied along Fortis Green Road, symbolise calls for the release of hostages seized by Hamas on 7th October 2023.

They were put up ahead of the second anniversary of the attacks, as 48 Israeli hostages are believed to still be in Gaza. Of those 48 people, 20 are thought to be alive.

Ben Paul, 55, helped put up the ribbons to pay tribute to his friend, Guy Gilboa Dalal, who was captured during the attack at the Nova festival in Israel.

He told the BBC : “It’s all about hostages, human beings. I don’t care what your politics are: This is a simple tale of morality.”

The student was challenged by the person filming the video as she removed the ribbons. However, the woman responded by saying she was “committing no crime.”

After being called “disgusting,” the student replied: “I think condoning genocide is disgusting.”

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Responding to reports that yellow ribbons were removed from fence poles, the Metropolitan Police said it had “stepped up reassurance patrols in the Muswell Hill area”.

Emma Semp, 41, a volunteer who has been helping to hang ribbons and posters, said it was “very depressing” that someone she believed to be of Jewish heritage had cut the ribbons.

She described the action as “unacceptable” towards the wider Jewish community, saying the ribbons have been put back up and are now being guarded.

“This is already a solemn day for everyone, and to feel so unsupported, and to also feel like people are trying to erase the trauma that has happened to Israelis, to the Jewish community and the families and friends of those hostages, is heartbreaking,” Emma added.

Paul described the symbols as apolitical, instead saying “they’re about humanitarianism”.

“It’s all about releasing the hostages, letting these kids go back to their mums and their dads, and when people come and brazenly, in front of us, bring pairs of big shears or scissors and cut them down saying ‘we don’t like what message you’re portraying here’, we don’t take that lightly,” he added.

The 55-year-old further claimed that after the ribbons were replaced, another “cowardly” person cut them down when it was dark. This prompted volunteers to tie more ribbons yesterday morning (Tuesday 7th).

“Right behind me there was a poster that’s been there for two years saying ‘end the genocide, stop the genocide,'” he said. “Nobody has touched that poster because people have a freedom in this country to espouse their political views. Why can’t we?”

The yellow ribbons have become a global symbol of solidarity with the hostages and their families since the attacks. They are part of the Bring Them Home campaign and have appeared across cities and on university campuses.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “At approximately 16:25 BST on Monday, officers were made aware of a video circulating online which appears to show a woman removing the ribbons in Muswell Hill.

“Officers attended the location and are reviewing the footage to determine whether any offences, including hate crime or criminal damage, have been committed. Inquiries remain ongoing.”

Featured image via @mirandalevycopy on Instagram