Activists try to erect statue of terror convict Marwan Barghouti at UK parliament

Police intercept pro-Palestinian activists, though no arrests reported; hotel probes ‘Free Palestine’ messages on TV screens in rooms of two different Jewish guests

By Zev Stub

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Today, 6:57 pm

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Zev Stub is the Times of Israel's Diaspora Affairs correspondent.

British police blocked pro-Palestinian activists from installing a statue of imprisoned Palestinian political leader and terror convict Marwan Barghouti in London’s Parliament Square on Wednesday.

The action was organized by the Free Marwan Now campaign, which advocates for Barghouti’s release from Israeli prison, where he has been held since 2002.

Footage showed activists wearing high-visibility jackets carrying the statue.

Police intervened during the attempt to raise the statue at the square, activists said. No arrests were immediately reported.

Barghouti, a prominent Fatah figure during the Second Intifada, was convicted by an Israeli court on five counts of murder and sentenced to multiple life terms for his role in terror attacks that killed Israeli civilians. He is seen by many Palestinians as a potential successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Barghouti has denied the charges for which he was convicted, and rejected the Israeli court’s jurisdiction to try him as a member of the PA’s parliament.

A statue of Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti was just put up by disgusting pro-Pals in Parliament Square. Right outside the centre of our democracy. He was one of the chief architects in suicide bombings and murders of dozens of innocents. Get him OUT of there NOW ???? pic.twitter.com/lf6pCI9k7n

— Heidi Bachram (@HeidiBachram) June 3, 2026

Separately, British hotel chain Travelodge said it was investigating after “Free Palestine” messages appeared on television screens in the rooms of two different Jewish guests at one of its London hotels, prompting allegations of antisemitism and a police report.

The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Travelodge hotel in Manor House, north London. A Jewish guest reported finding the message displayed on the television in his room shortly after checking in.

Soon after, a second visibly Jewish guest — a friend of the first man who was staying at the same hotel — reported finding the same message displayed on the television in his own room.

Both parties were visibly Jewish and were part of a group visiting London for a wedding, according to reports.

Travelodge CEO Jo Boydell said that the company had apologized to the guests and condemned antisemitism, adding that such behavior would not be tolerated within the company or its hotels.

The chain is treating the matter with the “utmost seriousness” and has launched an immediate investigation into the matter, as well as reporting it to the police, she said.

A visibly Jewish guest checks into Travelodge Manor House and finds “Free Palestine” displayed on his TV. His friend in another room receives the same message.

This is blatant antisemitism.

Absolutely disgraceful.

Those responsible should be identified, & fired!@TravelodgeUK pic.twitter.com/3WzHUVKv2F

— In Stamford Hill (@instamfordhill) June 3, 2026

The incident comes amid ongoing concerns about antisemitism and security within Jewish communities across Britain following a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in recent months, including numerous arson attacks on synagogues.

Some 63 percent of Britons say antisemitism is a major or significant problem in British society, according to a YouGov survey published last month after two British Jews were stabbed in Golders Green, and a record number of Jews in the country attended an Aliyah event last month.

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