One Tottenham local and protester said that the MP had “disappointed his constituents”, reports Olivia Opara

Tottenham residents held a protest last week in solidarity with Palestinians and to demand that David Lammy “calls for a ceasefire”.

On Friday, 20th October, Tottenham residents and locals staged an impromptu protest in support of the Palestinian people and in response to David Lammy MP’s comments regarding the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The residents met at the North London Community House where they created placards and posters.

The protest started in Bruce Grove and ended at Tottenham Green.

Long-term resident Paul (name change) who joined the protest told HCP that what is happening to Palestinians is “unspeakable evil”.

Paul said: “It is heartbreaking to see what is happening in Palestine and the war crimes that are being committed and the bombing of hospitals and the seizing of an entire population.

“And then at the same time our local MP David Lammy is giving full support to Israel to continue committing these war crimes and he is spreading completely false information about Palestinians.”

David Lammy, as well as other senior Labour party members, has come under fire for their statements regarding Israel since the attacks by Hamas on 7th October. When asked in an LBC interview on 11th October if a “siege is appropriate” and if Israel should withhold water, food and electricity from Palestinians in Gaza, the party’s leader Keir Starmer said that Israel “does have that right” and should “defend herself”. Starmer added that everything should be done “within international law” but emphasised that Israel “has core principles to defend herself”.

Labour shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry echoed Starmer in a BBC interview with Victoria Derbyshire. When asked if cutting off food, water and electricity is within international law, Thornberry commented: “I think Israel has an absolute right to defend itself against terrorism.”

After the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza was bombed on 17th October, killing nearly 500 people, Labour members began to voice their support for Gaza. Following the incident, Starmer said on X, formerly Twitter, that: “International law must be upheld. Hospitals and civilian lives must be protected.” Lammy added: “Heartbroken by the death of hundreds at the Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist hospital in Gaza. My prayers are with those suffering. This cannot be justified.”

However, Lammy still faces criticism for prior comments made on Sky News on 15th October in which he implied that Israeli babies were raped – a claim which has not been verified and which his critics say is “misinformation”.

Earlier this week, Woodside councillor Lotte Collett resigned the Labour whip over the party’s stance on the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Paul said: “My worry is that [David Lammy’s comments] are going to incite hate crimes. We are going to see a rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia and this is not good for Tottenham at all.”

“We have got a really diverse community here and this is going to set people against each other. Instead of doing this, David Lammy should be calling for a ceasefire.”

On Thursday, 19th October, residents also staged a ‘phone blockade’ in which they overwhelmed the phone lines of David Lammy’s office during his surgery. A source told HCP that this will be ongoing and coincide with a social media campaign, #LammyLied.

Phone blockades also took place in Hackney South and Shoreditch on Friday, 20th October.

Another resident, Sam (name change) told HCP that David Lammy has “disappointed his constituents” and that he does not believe that Lammy “deserves to be the MP of Tottenham”.

“It feels like he always puts his career in front of people. His career and his ambition is more important than not just the people of Gaza but the people of Tottenham and I want him out,” said Sam.

David Lammy MP was approached for comment.

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