Galloway Receives Award in Tehran, Praises Iran’s Support for Palestine
According to reports from British and Iranian media, George Galloway, the leader of the Workers Party of Britain, recently visited Tehran, where he received an award named after the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The award, as reported by WANA, was also given to Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, former Members of the European Parliament.
During his visit, Galloway boasted that his most "treasured" possession was Haniyeh’s passport. "I am honoured to receive this award," Galloway shared while receiving the Martyr Ismail Haniyeh award at a media festival. "I actually hold in my safe the passport of the martyr Ismail Haniyeh because when we arrived with one of our convoys to break the siege on Gaza [in 2009], he had promised me a Palestinian passport but they had run out of Palestinian passports. So he gave me his own personal passport and it is one of my most treasured possessions," he added.
As reported by the Jerusalem Post, Galloway led a delegation that delivered some $1.1 million of humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2009. Ahmed Kurd, Hamas’s former minister of social affairs, thanked Galloway for the "noble goodwill gesture" and called the lawmaker a "hero." The Jerusalem Post can confirm that Galloway’s actions have been met with criticism from UK officials and members of the Jewish community.
Galloway also took the opportunity to praise Tehran "for their steadfastness in support of the Palestinian people", adding: "The truth is when Palestine is finally free, Iran will be able to take its place in the panoply of heroes who made it possible." The Jerusalem Post notes that Galloway credited Yemen with providing the second most support to "Palestine." The Iran-backed Houthi terror group, not recognized as the official government of Yemen, has launched aerial attacks on Israel and disrupted international shipping in, what it claims, as solidarity with Palestinians.
A legal expert advised the Telegraph that while Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization in Britain, Galloway’s words may not have been enough to breach the country’s terrorism laws. However, UK officials and members of the Jewish community were critical of his actions. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: "Galloway’s behavior is appalling. Hamas is a banned terrorist organization responsible for repressing its citizens in Gaza and murdering innocent civilians. It is despicable that Galloway has expressed admiration for a senior member of their leadership and that he has travelled to Iran, a state hostile to the West, to do so."
The Jerusalem Post can confirm that after visiting Tehran, the 70-year-old former member of parliament traveled to Moscow, where he described Russia’s show of military strength as "moving, emotional, inspiring, humbling." Stephen Brisley, whose sister Lianne Sharabi and two nieces Yahel, 13, and Noya, 16, were killed on Kibbutz Be’eri, told the Telegraph: "It’s deeply disturbing to see George Galloway praising a former leader of Hamas. This is a cruel blow to the grieving families of those murdered, missing, or held hostage by Hamas."
The Professional History of George Galloway
Galloway was a member of the Labour Party from 1987 until 2003 when he was expelled for bringing the party into disrepute. The Guardian reported at the time that Galloway was charged with inciting Arabs to fight British troops, inciting British troops to defy orders, inciting Plymouth voters to reject Labour MPs, threatening to stand against Labour, and backing an anti-war candidate in Preston. Galloway had only been acquitted of the fifth charge.
After his expulsion from Labour, he ran as an Independent Labour candidate from 2003 until 2004. Following this, he became affiliated with the since-dissolved Respect Party until 2015. He lost his seat in Rochdale only months after winning in 2024. In one of the most notable moves in Galloway’s political career, he declared Bradford an "Israel-free zone." He was given a criminal caution for inciting racial hatred by West Yorkshire Police for this move, The Guardian reported in 2014.
Galloway later became a radio host for TalkRadio but was fired in 2019 for antisemitism after he claimed "no Israel flags on the cup" would be the consequence of the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club failing to make it to the Champions League. Tottenham, also known as Spurs, is a club strongly associated with the Jewish Community but is unaffiliated with Israel. The Jerusalem Post will continue to provide updates on this developing story.
