'Palestine Poppy' badge sold on eBay draws criticism from British veterans

Right · 2A group called Palestine Poppy is selling a badge it calls a "symbol of solidarity and remembrance for the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian people and their fight for justice", and British veterans have criticised it. 1 2 Right · 2The design has three petals in black, white and green around a red ring, matching the colours of the Palestinian flag. The Daily Express describes it as a 3cm metal badge with a butterfly clutch back. 1 2 Right · 2It is sold on eBay for about £1.74 (GB News) or £1.78 (Daily Express). The Express says the website describes it as "not-for-profit", with the price covering production costs and a small donation to charities in Palestine. GB News reported more than 1,200 purchases and the Express, later, more than 1,400. 1 2

Right · 2A video on the group's website features the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free". Both outlets note it is controversial: some read it as calling for the end of Israel as a Jewish state, while GB News says supporters see it as a call for Palestinian freedom and equality. 1 2 Right · 2Lt Sgt Stuart Crawford told GB News the poppies were "not at all appropriate" and accused the group of trying to "hijack" the traditional symbol. He said the remembrance poppy is "avowedly apolitical" while the Palestine Poppy is "unashamedly political, designed to divide rather than unite". 1 2 Right · 2Former Royal Navy officer Stuart Fawcett also criticised it, citing protesters who scaled the Battle of Britain memorial during a pro-Palestine demonstration in London the previous week. He said: "Now, we see them hijacking our national symbol of remembrance." 1 2

Right · 2Both outlets say Friends of Al-Aqsa is among the charities named as beneficiaries. They note it was banned from Labour's conference and that its chair, Ismail Patel, visited former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza and was filmed in 2009 saying "We salute Hamas for standing up to Israel." GB News adds that a Home Office-commissioned report called the charity "far-Left and Islamist". 1 2 Right · 1GB News also reports that the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is a beneficiary. It was ordered to pay more than £82,000 in costs after trying to prosecute a dual British-Israeli man for serving in the IDF, a case the judge dropped as legally baseless and politically motivated. GB News also lists other items on the seller's eBay account and says around 12,000 Palestinians are estimated to have fought in the Second World War. 1 Right · 2The Royal British Legion describes the red poppy as a symbol of "peace inclusive of all" that raises funds for the armed forces community. A spokesman said "people are free to choose to wear different poppies". Both outlets say they approached Palestine Poppy for comment, and neither reports a reply. 1 2