Woman who removed hostage ribbons defends actions

Nadia Yahlom defended her decision to cut down yellow ribbons in a north London park, which were dedicated to Israeli hostages, claiming it was a peaceful protest against genocide in Gaza. Filmed removing the ribbons in Muswell Hill, she faced severe backlash from the local Jewish community, with some labeling her actions as "morally repugnant. " Yahlom reported receiving threats of violence and claimed her actions were misunderstood as antisemitic. She argued that discussions about Palestinian oppression should encompass historical context, extending back to 1948. A United Nations report accused Israel of committing genocide, while Israel's foreign ministry rejected the claims as false.

Amid the ongoing conflict, which has claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives, Yahlom criticized the prioritization of Israeli lives over Palestinian suffering. Her actions have ignited a debate on the representation of grief and loss in the Israel-Palestine narrative. Yahlom expressed that the focus should be on liberation for the Palestinian people, not on her individual actions.