World-renowned Israeli Jewish historian Professor Haim Bresheeth, a lifelong peace activist and anti-Zionist, was arrested in London on Friday night during a protest against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.

Bresheeth, who is in his seventies, is a retired professor of media and culture at the University of East London. He was arrested by police under the Terrorism Act, charged with “hate speech”, outside the official London residence of Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely.

After being held in custody for hours at Charing Cross police station, he was released without charge on Saturday morning. A video of his arrest, published by the left-wing website Squawkboxcan be viewed Hereand in their X post below.

Bresheeth, the son of holocaust survivors, was arrested after giving a speech at the protest against Hotovely, with a police officer saying it was suspected of “hate speech”. The arresting officer refused to tell Bresheeth and other protesters present what his alleged hate speech consisted of.

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In the video, two police officers are seen approaching Bresheeth, one asking him to move away from the people he was with, saying “I need to talk to you here.” Bresheeth asks “what have I done?” Another person tells the police officer, “Not by myself.” People with Bresheeth ask for and receive police IDs.

The policeman then states, “So earlier today you gave a speech. So you are under arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 for making hate speech.”

Bresheeth responds: “Hate speech? Did I make hate speech? You are probably talking about someone else. Not in this demonstration.”