A Tory MP was left baffled when Palestine supporters staged a half-naked protest outside his constituency office in Derbyshire.
Two blindfolded men with their heads bowed and shirts off knlet on the pavement outside Robert Largan’s office in Whaley Bridge on Friday (February 16).
The pair were joined by six others, some of whom held aloft posters reading “Stop the genocide” and “Permanent ceasefire now” in an apparent protest against the Government’s position on Gaza.
Mr Largan, who represents High Peak, posted a photo of the action on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “I was greeted by this little gathering outside my office today.
“When I asked who the topless gentlemen were cosplaying, I was told they were members of the ‘resistance. They went on to tell me at great length how well Hamas were treating hostages…”
Mr Largan is one of several MPs whose offices have been targeted by protesters opposed to the Government’s response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Tory MP Mike Freer’s constituency office in north London was the target of an arson attack in December, while fellow Conservative Tobias Ellwood and his family were targeted by a mob which surrounded his home, branding him a war criminal over his support for Israel.
In reply to Mr Largan’s tweet, a fellow X user tweeted from the account @wob369 to say the protesters had gathered outside his office to “bring an end to needless suffering”.
The X user, whose apparent role in the protest has not been confirmed by Express.co.uk, added: “Me and my compadre both chatted re. experience afterwards.
“We developed excruciating cramps and had to move a little, both realising that in reality this movement could result in physical punishment. It was not pleasant but we were safe.”
They continued: “We merely engaged in a bit of theatre. I feel terrible for the trauma inflicted by those forcibly removed from their freedom, friends n families. Every one.”
The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza has surpassed 28,000 people, according to the Hamas run Health Ministry in Gaza. Tel Aviv contests the figures.
A quarter of Gaza’s residents are starving. About 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and around 250 abducted in Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 which sparked the war.
Meanwhile, an estimated 1.4 million Palestinians, more than half of Gaza’s population, have crammed into Rafah, most of them displaced by fighting elsewhere in the territory. Hundreds of thousands are living in sprawling tent camps.
Israel’s defence minister says the country is “thoroughly planning” its promised ground invasion of the southern border town.
