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In the north London neighborhood of Muswell Hill earlier this week, a woman was filmed cutting down yellow ribbons that symbolize hope for the safe return of hostages held in Gaza.
Author and journalist Miranda Levy recorded the vandalism and confronted the woman.
“You’re not going to do this,” the woman said on camera. “I’m not committing a crime. If I am, call the police.” When bystanders called her actions “disgusting,” she replied, “I think condoning genocide is disgusting. That’s what this is.”
The yellow ribbons are a sign of remembrance for the 48 people being held hostage in Gaza.
Having interviewed many of their families, seeing the ribbons and remembering their pain, feels very personal.
This teeny park near where I live (a place my then toddler thought was… pic.twitter.com/hCNmCTtWF8— Nicole Lampert (@nicolelampert) October 6, 2025
Levy later told The Telegraph: “These ribbons are to remember people captured. Put up your own stuff, but don’t take ours down.” She added that similar incidents have occurred, even in areas with large Jewish populations.
London’s Metropolitan Police said it is investigating to determine whether any offense — including a hate crime or criminal damage — took place.
Deadly Manchester synagogue attack heightens concern
The incident comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitism in the UK. During Yom Kippur last week, two Jews were murdered outside a synagogue in Manchester.
Authorities identified the attacker as Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. On Yom Kippur, he rammed his car into the synagogue and then stabbed multiple congregants. Al-Shamie was shot dead by police responding to the scene, and six people other people were arrested in connection with the attack.
Officials said al-Shamie was out on bail for rape allegations and was suspected of sending death threats to a pro-Israel MP in 2012.
A warning sign for Jewish safety in Britain
Cutting down hostage ribbons — placed to remember people captured — fuels fear and anger in Jewish neighborhoods. Incidents like these, alongside the Yom Kippur murders in Manchester, underscore urgent public safety concerns and the need for firm enforcement against antisemitic crimes.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
