The Home Secretary has confirmed an investigation is underway over claims two men, said to be survivors of the 7 October Hamas terror attack, were singled out by Border Force staff at Manchester Airport because they were Israelis.
The Jewish Representative Council (JRC) of Greater Manchester and Region says the pair were at the Nova Music festival when Hamas attacked.
In a letter to the Manchester Airport Group and published on X, formerly Twitter, the group said the pair had come to the UK to speak about their experiences, but said that on arrival at Manchester Airport they were told they needed to be questioned.
The JRC also released a video of the incident in which a male Border Force officer tells the men to “keep quiet, look at me, are you clear with that?”. He goes on to say “we are the bosses, not you”.
In the letter the JRC says: “We write to address concerns about discriminatory treatment by Border Force officers towards two Jewish, Israeli nationals who arrived at Manchester Airport on 24 March 2024, from Brussels on flight SN2183.
“The two men were survivors of the attacks at the Re’im (Nova) Music festival in Israel, by the terrorist group Hamas on 07 October. They were responsible for the rescue of a number of other survivors of the attack. They suffer from PTSD and had come to the UK to speak of their experiences as survivors of terrorism and to raise awareness for a not-for-profit organisation they have established to help survivors of the terror attacks.
“Upon arrival, when Border Patrol noticed they were travelling with Israeli passports, they were asked why they had come to Manchester. They responded that as survivors of the Nova Music Festival they had been invited to share their experiences with the Jewish community in Manchester. They were informed that they would been to be questioned.
“They only reason for their detention and interrogation was because they were Israeli.”
The JRC wrote that the men were detained for two hours, and that after their release were told by the officer that “they had to make sure that you are not going to do what you are doing in Gaza over here”.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Read more from Sky News:
UN council passes resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire
Why US abstention on Gaza ceasefire vote is significant
NHS probes ‘sex tape’ claims at children’s hospital
In response, Home Secretary James Cleverly wrote on X: “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.”
Sky News has contacted Manchester Airport and Border Force for comment.