The United Kingdom is investigating a report that two survivors of the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7 were discriminated against upon their arrival at Manchester Airport on Sunday.
British Home Secretary James Cleverly tweeted late on Monday that “we are investigating this. We do not tolerate antisemitism or any form of discrimination. This incident will be handled in line with our disciplinary procedures.”
The Jewish Representative Council (JRC) of Greater Manchester and Region wrote in an online complaint published on Monday that the two men, both Jewish Israelis, were stopped by border guards after arriving on a flight from Brussels.
They were identified on Tuesday by the Daily Mail as brothers Daniel and Neria Sharabi
They are survivors of the Supernova music festival massacre who suffer from PTSD and came to the United Kingdom to speak about their experiences and raise awareness about a nonprofit they established to assist other survivors. They saved dozens of festivalgoers fleeing the attack by providing fire cover with weapons they found in a tank, while they received instructions by phone from an IDF officer.
According to the complaint, the two men were detained for two hours after showing their Israeli passports and telling the border guards why they were visiting the country. A video shared by JRC shows one of the guards addressing the Israelis in an aggressive manner, saying, “Keep quiet, look at me, are you clear with that? We are the bosses, not you.”
After they were released, the same border guard officer said, according to the complaint, that “they had to make sure that you are not going to do what you are doing in Gaza over here.”
“The only reason for their detention and interrogation was because they were Israeli,” the complaint alleges.
Daniel Sharabi told the Daily Mail that he had “no doubt” he was detained for being Israeli.
“We kept asking the officials why they had stopped us—was it because we are Israeli or because we are Jewish?” he said. “Of course they never admitted it, but it was obvious to us it was the only reason.
“This is my first time in the country and my last time in the country. I don’t want to feel what I felt again,” he added.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson told Sky News that the U.K. Border Force personnel are not employed by the airport.
Some 364 people were murdered at the outdoor rave near Kibbutz Re’im attended by 3,500 partygoers—nearly one-third of the approximately 1,200 people killed by Hamas terrorists during their mass invasion of the northwestern Negev. Many were wounded, and at least 40 were taken back to Gaza as hostages.
In another recent incident in Manchester, a social media post published on March 21 alleged that a visibly Jewish boy was forced out of his bed by nurses wearing pro-Palestinian badges at a children’s hospital.
According to his uncle, at one point the boy had to “lie on the floor” while being treated. The boy also was “denied correct medical care” the last few times he was treated at the medical center.
“Coincidentally, today when not visibly Jewish, he received quick care,” the post adds. “Also worth noting, prior to the conflict he received excellent care.”
The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital responded to the claims, saying that it has “taken action” and “do[es] not tolerate any discriminatory practice.”
Manchester University NHS Trust also issued a statement regarding the incident:
“We have taken action and offered prompt reassurance that Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and the wider NHS, provides care and treatment for all people regardless of race, faith or background, and does not discriminate.
“We are proud of our good relationship with the Jewish communities across Greater Manchester and will continue to build their confidence in accessing services through our engagement with patients, faith leaders and communities.
“We have reminded all staff of the need to adhere to the trust’s dress code policy which only permits the wearing of badges endorsed by officially sanctioned NHS campaigns.
“We do not tolerate any discriminatory practice and react swiftly where there is evidence of such behavior.
“Our patients are our priority at all times, and we would like to reassure people of all faiths, and those of none, within our community.”