New MP told public rally: ‘Let’s make Israel burn’

A newly elected MP who won his seat on a pro-Palestinian ticket once told a Gaza rally “let’s make Israel burn”.

Adnan Hussain was elected as an independent in Blackburn on Thursday, defeating Kate Hollern of Labour by tapping into voters’ anger over her party’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

Around one in three Blackburn residents are Muslim and Mr Hussain promised during the campaign to speak out “against the injustice being inflicted against the people of Gaza”.

Speaking at a “Free Palestine” rally in Bradford in 2014, the now-MP claimed Israel’s military operation in the summer of that year amounted to a “holocaust”.

He told activists: “Every corporation… that supports Israel, let’s stop their funding. Let’s stop the funding. They let Gaza burn, they hate Gaza… Now let’s make Israel burn, let’s make Israel burn. We will stop their funding… United we stand, divided we fail. We will raise. We will show Israel that we do not support its holocaust. We will never support its holocaust.”

While he continued to use the term “genocide” during the election campaign, Mr Hussain has not talked about Israel “burning” or used similar violent language in recent years.

Explaining his remarks at the 2014 rally, Mr Hussain said that he was “speaking from a place of very high emotion triggered by what I very clearly state in the speech in question – a genocide”.

“In hindsight, and with the maturity of at least ten years since the speech in question, I’d use my words much more carefully, in order for room for nuance not to arise,” he said.

“The speech itself, other than a potential failure in adequate articulation of my point, carries a very positive, and inclusive message when listened to as a whole. I call for harmony between all racial and religious groups, Muslim, Christian and Jewish. ..However as far as my stance on the genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza goes, and my belief that all arms must be halted to Israel until this ugly chapter is brought to a close, and those complicit are brought to justice before the World Court, my views have not altered, in fact, given the situation on the ground in Gaza right now, they have in fact strengthened.”

A video posted on Mr Hussain’s TikTok account on Friday showed his supporters chanting “free, free Palestine” as he celebrated his victory with activists.

In a second clip, as he spoke at a rally of supporters during the campaign, Mr Hussain said: “My people of Blackburn, I can assure you I will carry your rage in the corridors of power. I will scream until they hear us, I will scream until they stop a genocide. Because I’m telling you, MP or no MP, I have continued to speak for Gaza.”

He added: “I feel Allah has gifted me an ability to represent you. I have been gifted an ability to speak the truth and speak the truth I shall in the corridors of power, if Allah wills.”

And a third video, of a “from Blackburn to Gaza” rally, showed a number of his supporters behind a banner that read “from Blackburn to Gaza, globalise the intifada”.