A Palestinian migrant who called for the slaughter of Jewish people cannot be deported from Britain, despite wanting to leave, it has emerged. Abu Wadee, full name Mosab Abdulkarim Al-Gassas, was jailed for nine months for entering the UK illegally after arriving on a small boat in March last year.
Background and claims
The 34-year-old is reportedly a former member of a militant group who had called for Allah to “kill (Jews) one by one... don't leave a single one”. Mr Wadee has denied he is antisemitic and said he no longer supports Hamas, only doing so under duress while in Gaza. He previously appeared to express support for Hamas — a proscribed terrorist organisation in Britain — on social media.
Mr Wadee cannot be returned to Gaza because the Home Office has no safe means of getting him there, reports the Daily Mail. It is understood this is because Gaza is still considered an active conflict area, despite a fragile ceasefire being in place since October last year.
Videos and relocation
However, Mr Wadee has posted videos online asking to be removed from Britain, citing press attention. In one video, he is translated as saying: “I am calling upon the Red Cross and human rights organisations all over the world to organise my removal from Britain. I wish to be relocated right now, before tomorrow.”
Earlier this week, it emerged Mr Wadee had been living in taxpayer-funded asylum accommodation in Corby, Northamptonshire, following his release from prison in December last year. He has since been moved out of the area after his presence in the town made national headlines, it is believed.
When approached by the Northamptonshire Telegraph, he confirmed he had been a member of the Tyre-Burning Unit — linked to Hamas — and had called for the killing of Jews, but claimed this was “eight years ago”.
Statements and political reaction
Mr Wadee said he only acted this way because he was under the rule of Hamas and had no choice. He told the local newspaper: “That was back when I lived in Gaza under Hamas rule. Everyone knows that Hamas is a terrorist organisation that would kill us if we didn’t speak against the Jews while living there.”
He claimed he now has Jewish friends and loved living in Corby, adding he would like to stay there. Mr Wadee was tracked down by the Northants Telegraph after posting a series of videos on TikTok from Corby town centre.
Local Labour MP Lee Barron called for Mr Wadee to be deported immediately. While the Government said they would not comment on individual cases, a spokesperson said: “Any foreign national who receives a prison sentence in the UK is referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity and will be barred from ever returning. Over 11,000 foreign criminals including murderers and rapists have been returned or deported in the two years since the last election – a 41 per cent increase on the two years prior.”
