London underground train driver suspended for chanting ‘Free Palestine’

A train driver in London was suspended yesterday after he or she allegedly led passengers in a chant of “free, free Palestine,” according to transport officials.

Transport for London (TfL), which operates the London tube system, released a statement saying the driver had been taken off duty temporarily pending the results of an investigation.

Approximately 100,000 demonstrators took part in the pro-Palestinian march in the British capital on Saturday, when the event occurred, according to reports from AFP.

Social media posts appear to show the train’s conductor repeatedly announcing “free, free” over the train’s public address system.

A response of “Palestine” is then heard from the crowded carriage.

Protests in support of the Palestinian cause often feature the phrase.

To quote TfL’s chief operating officer, “we have been urgently and thoroughly investigating the footage appearing to show a Tube driver misusing the PA system and leading chants on a Central line train on Saturday,” Glynn Barton.

While we continue our thorough investigation into the occurrence in accordance with our policies and procedures, we have identified and suspended a driver.

Tom Tugendhat, the British security minister, said the film will be “intimidating” to people on X (previously Twitter).

The Israeli embassy in London condemned what it called “deeply troubling to see such intolerance” on the London tube.

According to Hamas, more than 5,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza as a result of Israeli air and ground bombardments since the shocking Hamas strikes on Israel on October 7.