An Israeli author has alleged that he was subjected to antisemitic abuse by staff at Luton Airport, leaving them to launch an investigation.
Alon Penzel claimed he was hassled by security at the airport as he prepared to fly to Tel Aviv, Israel.
He was wearing a T-shirt which had the slogan ‘End Jew Hatred’ emblazoned across it. He was also carrying a sign which promoted his book titled ‘Testimonies Without Boundaries Israel: October 7th’.
October 7th refers to the date of Hamas’ terror attack in Israel last year, which saw over 1,200 Israelis killed.
Antisemitic abuse has been on the rise since October 7 as Israel’s war against Hamas continues. The Gaza Health Ministry says Israel’s military has killed nearly 45,000 people in the Palestinian territory.
Mr Penzel says he was stopped by a security guard who told him his sign was “offensive”, reports The Telegraph.
The author, 23, had been in London to discuss his book, which includes first-hand accounts from those who survived Hamas captivity.
He said: “I had already been through security and I was walking to the gate when a security man came up to me, and asked me if I was a protester.
“I was puzzled. I said ‘no, I’m just trying to catch my flight’. He pointed at my sign and said that some people may find it offensive. I asked why and he said it was offensive because there has been an illegal occupation since 1948. It was then that I realised something else was going on.”
He continued: “I felt like this was pure antisemitism. I was telling them I was not a protester.
“They said they were reviewing CCTV footage of me because protests are not allowed in the airport. Eventually, they let me go. There was no apology, nothing.”
Mr Penzel is now taking legal action over the incident. He is being represented by UK Lawyers for Israel.
In a letter to Luton Airport, they said: “[The security guard] was trying to make his own political point that somehow the massacre on 7 October was Israel’s own fault and was a kind of payback for Israel’s historic wrongs.
“Moreover he appeared to blame Mr Prenzel for the imagined actions of past Israeli governments. He appeared to be punishing Mr Penzel, on the basis of his own antisemitic attitude, by detaining him.
“[The security guard] appears to have harassed Mr Penzel, and caused him to be detained for over an hour, on the basis that he was obviously Jewish and Israeli.”
Luton Airport’s general counsel, Mee-Ling Skeffington, responded to the letter.
She said: “An investigation has started and is ongoing. You will appreciate we cannot comment further on that process, however we can confirm it will be thorough and we will take appropriate action based on the findings. We will not condone intolerance, whether because of race or religion.”
An airport spokesman said: “Staff were alerted to the presence of a passenger who appeared to be carrying a placard at the boarding gate for a flight to Tel Aviv.
“To ensure the safety of passengers, police were asked to attend, before the man was allowed to board his flight and continue his journey.”
