A Buckinghamshire MP has been criticised for making an “inflammatory” social media post over the Israel and Hamas conflict.
Joy Morrissey, the MP for Marlow and Beaconsfield, met with mothers of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, sharing her experience on social media.
In it, she called the meeting “profound” and praised the mothers’ strength in the face of “unimaginable” pain.
The Conservative MP said: “No campaigns, no Glastonbury crowd demanding their release, nothing. Silence.
“The only sound is that of the hysterical mob marching the streets calling for the destruction of their nation and their very existence.
“Antisemitism is all too clearly alive, well and indulged in this country. It is rapidly becoming a shameful episode in the nation’s history.”
More: Plans to replace bungalow with two cottages in Marlow Bottom submitted
However, the post has been criticised by individuals and groups including Marlow Palestine Action, who called on the MP to retract her “harmful” and “offensive” remarks.
The group said they were “appalled and deeply saddened” by the post made by their member of parliament, and called the statement “misjudged and misguided.”
They said: “To use such an inflammatory term as ‘hysterical mob’ to characterise thousands of peaceful citizens …, who have marched through UK streets for months to protest the horrific loss of Palestinian lives is not only irresponsible and offensive, but dangerously divisive.
“Ms Morrissey chooses to ignore the overwhelming international outcry, a testament to the horrors taking place.”
They continued calling for the release of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners, adding that they believe the MP is out of touch with public concern.
They also asked if she would extend the same compassion to mothers of Palestinian children who have died in the conflict.
They emphasised that many Jewish people globally also oppose the Israeli government’s actions and support Palestinian rights.
The group condemns Ms Morrissey’s stance as harmful, divisive, and dismissive of Palestinian suffering.
In response, Ms Morrissey said that her thoughts remain with every innocent person whose life has been lost or forever changed by this devastating conflict.
She said: “As a mother, my heart breaks for every innocent life lost in Gaza, especially the children.
“Each life taken is a profound tragedy. I also feel deep sorrow for the mothers whose children remain held hostage by Hamas. Their pain is unimaginable, and it weighs heavily on all of us.
“Two things can be true at once: every life lost in this conflict is an absolute tragedy, and so too is the alarming rise in antisemitism we’ve witnessed — some of which has been visible in recent marches.”
She also highlighted recent events in the UK which have caused “fear and distress” within the Jewish community.
She said: “It’s vital that politicians like myself speak out against this, which is exactly what I did in my recent post.
“We need to act before a Jewish person in the UK is killed because anti-Israel anger is used to justify antisemitism in the UK.”
This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s Editors’ Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here
© 2001-2025. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW | 01676637 |
Data returned from the Piano ‘meterActive/meterExpired’ callback event.
As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.
Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.
These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community.
It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.

source