BOOKLETS praising terror group Hamas and its “military struggle” against Israel were handed out at a student rally at one of Britain’s most prestigious universities.
Police have launched a probe after The Sun on Sunday uncovered the shocking material being handed out at a rally at Bristol University.
Booklets praising Hamas were handed out at a student pro Palestine rally at Bristol University
The pamphlet describes the terror groups as a “resistance movement” and says it “unconditionally” supports their violent attacks.
It was handed by the Socialist Workers Party Student Union at a pro Palestine student rally held on Wednesday this week.
Appalled ministers slammed the material and are writing to the university to demand action.
Education Minister Robert Halfon said: “Students are entitled to freedom of speech, but not to glorify mass murder or promote dangerous and illegal terrorist organisations.
“We have written to universities to ensure they crack down on such incidents, protect Jewish students on campus and work with the police where needed.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has told police to use the “full force of the law” against people showing support for Hamas in Britain.
It is a terror offence to invite support for Hamas.
Hamas slaughtered over 1, 400 people – including children and babies – in their brutal attacks on Israel two weeks ago.
Hundreds were ripped from their loved ones and smuggled over the border into Gaza where they are held hostage in their underground rabbit warren of tunnels.
The attacks have sparked a wave of anti-Semitism and pro Palestine rallies across Britain’s universities.
Dave Rich, director of policy at the Community Security Trust – which provides security for British Jews – hit out at the shocking material.
He said: “Two weeks ago Hamas terrorists rampaged through towns in Israel, murdering over a thousand people, slaughtering whole families in their homes and taking women and children hostage.
“This is what the Hamas ‘military struggle’ involves and it is utterly sick that anyone in this country would support it.”
The booklet is called Palestinian Resistance, Revolution and the Struggle for Freedom.
It states: “We consider Hamas to be a resistance movement against Zionism and imperialism.
“From this perspective we unconditionally support Hamas when it is engaged in military or non military struggles against Israel.”
It was written in 2014 – before Hamas was designated a terrorist group in Britain.
It is still being advertised on the Socialist Workers Party website for £2. Although it states it is “out of stock”.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: “Since this was brought to our attention by the media on Friday 20 October, enquiries have taken place to try to establish more information about the circulation of this publication.
“Our enquiries are at an early stage but understand the article within the publication was most likely written several years ago and the document may have been re-distributed in Bristol this week.
“We are not aware of receiving any specific calls relating to this from members of the public.
“However, we will work with the university as part of enquiries to determine whether any criminal offences have taken place.”
A Bristol University spokeswoman said: “As well as offering support to our students and staff at this time, we have communicated that expressing support for Hamas is a criminal offence as they are categorised in UK law as a proscribed terrorist organisation.
“We are aware that material produced by the national Socialist Worker organisation may have been shared on campus.
“This contains an article written in July 2014 by the Revolutionary Socialists in Egypt that is supportive of Hamas.
We are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness and taking appropriate action, including liaising with Avon and Somerset Police.”
The Sun on Sunday contacted the SWP for comment.
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