London’s Mayor draws criticism for controversial comments linking Eid celebrations to the ongoing Gaza situation, prompting calls for a balanced discourse.
London’s Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, has drawn fierce backlash for his recent comments in a video message marking Eid al-Fitr, which strayed into deeply politicised territory regarding the situation in Gaza. In this social media post from March 30, Khan made a sensational claim that “more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s ongoing military campaign, including more than 15,000 children,” pulling figures from the contentious Gaza Ministry of Health.
Khan’s statement radiated a misplaced sense of pride in London’s response, framing these “betrayals of humanity” as a burden on our collective conscience. Yet, this emotionally charged rhetoric fails to account for the complexities of the conflict, painting a one-sided narrative that seeks to vilify Israel while ignoring the violent actions of Hamas, which has faced condemnation in UK law for its terrorist activities.
The Israeli embassy did not hold back in its criticism, pointing out that Khan’s failure to mention, let alone condemn, Hamas strikes at the heart of accountability. An embassy spokesperson emphasised, “It is alarming that throughout the message, there is no mention of Hamas or any condemnation of terrorism and a call for the release of 59 hostages that are being held in horrific and inhumane conditions.” This eloquently underscores the need for a balanced, truthful discourse rather than one that coddles terrorists while vilifying their victims.
With the accuracy of casualty figures often questioned by the Israeli government—claiming they are frequently inspired by misleading data propagated by Hamas—it is hard to take Khan’s numbers at face value. This is a concern that cannot be dismissed easily, particularly with reputable outlets like the BBC and United Nations also questioning the reliability of such reports.
As Eid celebrations take place, Khan endeavored to pay homage to the significant contributions of London’s Muslim communities, categorising them as integral to the city’s identity. Yet one must wonder whether these remarks truly reflect the sentiments of those communities or merely serve his political narrative. The messaging of accountability and truth is crucial now more than ever, especially from those in positions of leadership. Khan must reconsider his role and responsibility to ensure that London represents all its citizens and speaks against violence, instead of echoing divisive rhetoric that further entrenches division and misunderstanding.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.jns.org/london-mayor-slams-israel-in-holiday-greeting-to-muslims/ – This URL provides information about London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Eid al-Fitr message, where he criticized Israel, and the subsequent backlash from British Jewish community groups due to his failure to condemn Hamas and the use of disputed casualty figures.
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/03/israel-accuses-sadiq-khan-parroting-hamas-propaganda/ – The Telegraph reports on the Israeli embassy accusing Sadiq Khan of parroting ‘Hamas propaganda’ in his Eid message, highlighting his failure to condemn Hamas and the disputed casualty figures he used.
- https://www.gbnews.com/politics/sadiq-khan-israeli-embassy-hamas-propaganda-eid-speech – GB News covers the accusations against Sadiq Khan by the Israeli Embassy, focusing on his failure to condemn terrorism and the use of figures from Hamas-aligned sources in his Eid speech.
- https://www.bbc.com/news – The BBC often reports on the Gaza conflict and has covered the challenges in verifying casualty figures, which are sometimes disputed by various parties in the conflict.
- https://www.un.org/unispal/ – The United Nations provides reports and updates on the situation in Gaza, including information on casualties, which can be used to assess the accuracy of figures cited by public figures.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
While there is no specific indication that the content is outdated, the context involves ongoing geopolitical issues which can be rapidly evolving. There’s no clear reference to this being a press release or older content, but its timeliness is sustained by recent events.
Quotes check
Score:
5
Notes:
There are no direct quotes with clear sources identified in the text, making it difficult to verify their originality or date. However, the narrative relies on statements attributed to known entities without specific references.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a known media outlet (Express.co.uk), which has a history of reporting news but may vary in terms of neutrality and depth. Some points are referenced from other reliable sources like the Israeli embassy, which adds credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claim regarding casualty numbers in Gaza is controversial and has been a subject of debate. While there’s evidence supporting the general conflict and figures from sources like the Gaza Ministry of Health, these are often disputed, making the overall narrative plausible but not without controversy.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative engages with current geopolitical issues but includes controversial figures and lacks direct quotes with verifiable sources. While originating from a known media outlet, its reliability is somewhat compromised by potential biases and disputed claims.
