Palestine House, the UK's largest Palestinian cultural centre in central London, hosted two speakers who openly celebrated the October 7, 2023 terror attacks, according to a Metro report. Latifa Abouchakra and Batool Subeiti appeared at a 'Lessons of Resistance' panel event last week, where they described the Hamas-led assault as a 'moment of triumph' and 'unprecedented revenge'. The attacks killed 1,200 people in Israel and took over 250 hostages.
Event and Speakers
The event, held on July 2, 2026, was co-hosted by Palestine House and Shia student society Absoc for Justice. It explored how the death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussain, in 680CE continues to inspire resistance. Subeiti, a pro-Iranian commentator, also played a central role in Palestine House's educational programme for youth on 'resistance' and history. During the panel, Subeiti discussed 'martyrdom' as a form of 'victory', and panellists appeared to defend a Palestine Action activist convicted of criminal damage.
Controversial Statements
Abouchakra, a presenter on banned Iran-backed channel PressTV, said on the day of the attacks that the violence was 'the homecoming of at least 1,000 Palestinians from the resistance factions into the fragile Zionist entity'. In an Instagram post, she called it a 'moment of triumph' and 'humiliation on behalf of the Zionist entity'. Subeiti, in a now-deleted post, praised the 'unprecedented revenge' of the 'Al Aqsa Flood' and its 'initiative, timing, and creativity and execution'. She also shared an allegedly anti-Semitic image in July 2025 and mourned the death of Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei.
Reactions
The Community Security Trust (CST) called the platforming 'deeply troubling'. A spokesperson said: 'It is deeply troubling when individuals who have praised the October 7 terrorist attacks or have a record of alleged antisemitic activity are given platforms at public events in the UK. Nobody should be celebrating or glorifying the atrocities of October 7.' Nivi Feldman of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said: 'It is heartbreaking that individuals who have publicly celebrated the terrorist attacks that murdered the greatest number of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust are being given a platform and presented as role models.' The Jewish Leadership Council called for accountability for organisations that 'host extremist views'.
Palestine House Response
Palestine House stated it should not be expected to vet participants' opinions. A spokesperson said: 'Palestine House exists because Palestinians are living through a genocide and a man-made famine in Gaza. The event explored the historical and religious significance of Imam Hussain; it was not organised to endorse the personal views of any individual. We do not vet or adopt every opinion expressed by the hundreds of individuals who pass through our events. We reject all forms of racism and hatred.' Abouchakra and Subeiti issued a joint statement claiming they were victims of a harassment campaign.
