UK jury acquits Jewish anti-Zionist activist Tony Greenstein in ‘terrorism’ case
Political activist Tony Greenstein
The Palestine Chronicle reports on 23 August 2026:
Key Takeaways
- A jury at Kingston Crown Court unanimously found Tony Greenstein not guilty of inviting support for a proscribed organization under Britain’s Terrorism Act 2000.
- Prosecutors argued that Greenstein’s October 7, 2023 posts supporting the “Gaza ghetto uprising” amounted to an invitation to support Hamas.
- Greenstein maintained that supporting Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation was distinct from supporting Hamas as an organization, telling the court: “When a colonial power holds another people down, they have the right to resist.”
Unanimous Acquittal
A British jury has unanimously acquitted Jewish anti-Zionist writer and Palestine campaigner Tony Greenstein of inviting support for Hamas, concluding a closely watched prosecution under Britain’s terrorism legislation. The 72-year-old Brighton activist was found not guilty at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, August 21, after the jury deliberated for two hours and 11 minutes.
Greenstein had faced one count of inviting support for a proscribed organization under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, relating to three social media posts published on October 7, 2023. The jury consisted of five women and seven men, according to reporting by the Press Association. Greenstein appeared visibly emotional when the verdict was delivered, while supporters in the public gallery reacted excitedly.
The case centered on whether Greenstein’s expressions of support for Palestinian resistance and for actions carried out during the October 7 attack constituted an invitation to support Hamas itself, which is proscribed in Britain.
‘Full Support for the Gaza Ghetto Uprising’
During the trial, prosecutors pointed to language Greenstein used in posts published on October 7, including: “Please share. Full support for the Gaza ghetto uprising.”
The posts linked to Greenstein’s blog, where he wrote that despite his criticisms of Hamas, the organization should be congratulated for what he described as a “well-planned and audacious attack.”