Zack Polanski condemns weaponisation of Manchester tragedy to attack anti-genocide protesters

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has condemned the cynical weaponisation of yesterday’s tragedy in Manchester to attack anti-genocide protesters.

Following the tragic synagogue attack that killed two people, genocide apologists have despicably sought to weaponise the murders for their own interests. The establishment media has irresponsibly amplified the voices of pro-Israel lobbyists suggesting the government should now take further action against people opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza. But Polanski had the perfect response.

Zack Polanski: “democratic, non-violent protest is a cornerstone of our democracy”

The synagogue attack happened just as the world was responding to Israel’s illegal abduction of international humanitarian volunteers. And rather than condemning Israel kidnapping UK civilians in international waters, home secretary Shabana Mahmood called protests against Israeli piracy “fundamentally un-British”.

Jewish politician Zack Polanski responded by saying:

I think it’s really problematic if someone is trying to weaponise the attack that happened yesterday to try and silence protest in this country against the genocide… They’re separate issues. Of course, we should always look to be respectful. But we need to be clear what this government is doing. They are selling arms to Israel. They are sharing intelligence for an ongoing genocide.

So I’m less concerned about the policing of language and civility and I’m more concerned about the actual bombs that are landing on people…

Speaking as a member of the Jewish community, I wouldn’t want anyone to feel like they had to be silent about a genocide that’s happening because of an outrageous, atrocious attack that happened on our soil too. These are separate things and we should condemn them all.

.@ZackPolanski: "I think its really problematic if someone is trying to weaponise the attack that happened yesterday to try and silence protest in this country against the genocide. They're separate issues.. we need to be clear what this govt is doing" https://t.co/XJWA4F2QX8 pic.twitter.com/JF49OxQAcK

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) October 3, 2025

He also insisted:

We have to not be antisemitic and conflate the conversation that’s happening in the Middle East with the attack that happened yesterday. They’re completely separate issues.

And he called Mahmood’s comments “deeply irresponsible”, stressing that:

Democratic, non-violent protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. And I think it’s worrying when government are increasingly trying to crush down dissent… To try and use [the Manchester attack] to point at protest and say people don’t have a right to also speak out against a genocide is both conflating issues, it’s incoherent, and it’s exactly the opposite of what we need from politicians.

.@ZackPolanski is asked about the Home Secretarys comments that yesterdays protests about Israels actions were dishonourable (she also said they were unBritish).

Zack is spot on. pic.twitter.com/K3xkm8Asot

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) October 3, 2025

Focus on actual terrorism rather than crushing the right to protest!

On top of what Zack Polanski said, police have also asked peaceful protesters not to show solidarity with non-violent direct action group Palestine Action this weekend. The dodgy political decision to proscribe the group has drained police resources. Showing again that they don’t consider the protesters to be dangerous, police have pleaded with them not to go ahead with tomorrow’s peaceful protest. But the non-violent campaigners have a clear, simple message:

Don’t arrest us then…

Deal with actual terrorism.

Don’t arrest us then 🤷

We are causing no obstruction.
We are committing no act of violence.
We are making no noise.
We are breaching no peace.
We are using nonviolent language.
We are peacefully protesting against UK complicity in genocide.

Deal with actual terrorism. https://t.co/rQ705NDiPO

— Defend Our Juries (@DefendourJuries) October 3, 2025

Featured image via the Canary