British law firm representing Hamas changes name to Riverway to the Sea
Riverway Law will now reopen as the legal arm of a new organisation called 'Riverway to the Sea', which describes itself as 'dedicated to understanding and confronting the racist ideology of Zionism'.
The firm's title is a reference to the pro-Palestinian slogan 'from the River to the Sea, Palestine shall be free'.
The slogan has been interpreted in a variety of ways. Critics claim it rejects Israel's right to exist by asserting a Palestinian territorial claim to all land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean. Others characterise it as a call for the international recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The new firm states that its purpose is to use the British legal system to challenge Israel, whose name they render in quote marks, and Zionism 'through strategic litigation, legal education, and international co-ordination'.
It cites asylum claims, employment tribunals and defamation suits as opportunities to further these goals.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, who first called for an SRA investigation into Riverway Law, told The Telegraph: 'This isn't a law firm committed to upholding the rule of law – they are naked activists who seek to weaponise it. The SRA need to expedite their investigation so these disgusting individuals can be brought to heel.'
Riverway Law made headlines in April when it launched an appeal to have Hamas taken off Britain's list of proscribed groups.
In a submission to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, it argued Hamas posed 'no threat to the UK people' and should be allowed to operate here on free speech grounds.
Days later, Mr Jenrick reported the firm to the SRA, arguing the appeal potentially breached UK sanctions rules on terror groups. He also drew attention to apparent social media posts about the war in Gaza by Fahad Ansari, the leading lawyer in the case and the director of Riverway.
'A legitimate resistance movement'
The posts included claims that Hamas is a 'legitimate resistance movement' protecting Palestinians from 'UK-sponsored Israeli genocide'.
Mr Ansari has defended his firm's actions, saying it took advice to ensure it did not breach its duties under the sanctions regime.
The SRA is understood to have opened its investigation into the firm in May and was still at an early phase last month. However, Riverway Law ceased trading on June 29, and therefore no longer functions as a solicitors' practice regulated by the SRA.
In a statement on its website, the firm said: 'In response to escalating repression and growing global momentum for justice in Palestine, we are proud to announce that Riverway Law is undergoing a restructure whereby it will become the legal arm of the newly launched Riverway to the Sea – a movement-embedded legal organisation committed to confronting Zionism through strategic litigation, legal education, and international coordination.
'We have therefore taken the decision to close the practice in its current manifestation and will soon be reopening a new firm that will be better equipped to deal with the challenges of our times.'
Riverway submitted its 106-page application on behalf of Hamas to the Home Office in April, accompanied by a video which was posted to its social media channels.
The appeal, believed to be the first of its kind, was fronted by Mousa Abu Marzouk, Hamas's head of international relations and its legal office.
Mr Ansari told The Telegraph: 'In the face of a live-streamed genocide, we are restructuring to meet the needs of the struggle. Riverway to the Sea will deliver radical legal education to equip the next generation of legal fighters while the forthcoming Riverway Law Centre – breaking with outdated divisions between barristers and solicitors – will form our legal wing to drive bold, coordinated challenges to Zionism.
'Riverway to the Sea has already held discussions on deproscription challenges with lawyers in the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Australia. We have been invited to speak about deproscription at an international lawyers' convention this summer, and are currently collaborating with other Jewish lawyers to provide training about the anti-Semitism within Zionism.
'While we appreciate that a low-grade politician like Robert Jenrick may want to bolster his fascist credentials by claiming he shut the firm down, there is not and has never been any investigation into Riverway Law.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
14 minutes ago
- Sky News
MP recalls childhood abuse as he calls for law change to make domestic abuse a specific criminal offence
Why you can trust Sky News An MP who decided until recently to "never speak" about the abuse he suffered as a child has shared his harrowing story so that "no kid has to go through" what he did. Josh Babarinde describes being physically abused by his mother's former partner from the age of four, and remembers crying himself to sleep under the covers "hearing shouts, hearing screams and things smash". He says he became hypervigilant growing up and felt safe at school but "like he was treading on eggshells" in his own home. The Eastbourne MP, who is also the Liberal Democrats' justice spokesperson, says his experience has driven his politics. He is calling on the government to stop abusers "slipping through the net" and being released from prison early. Opening up about his story in his twenties was "difficult" but looking back, Mr Babarinde says, he is "so proud of the resilience of that kid". The MP recently found his childhood diary containing Star Wars drawings alongside an entry he wrote from the bathroom. The diary, he recalls, wrote: "I'm really going to try to go (to the toilet) but I can't. Oh my goodness, I'm gonna be in so much trouble, I'm going to get smacked so hard." Then an entry five minutes later: "I still haven't done anything, I'm going to be in so much trouble." He says reading the entry reminded him of how "helpless" he felt. "It was mortifying," he says. "An abuser takes away your sense of self-worth." The 32-year-old is calling on the government to change the law to make domestic abuse a specific criminal offence. The change would mean, he argues, abusers can no longer effectively disguise their history under other offences like assault. He says the Ministry of Justice's early release scheme, which has seen thousands of prisoners released early to ease overcrowding, has failed to exclude domestic abusers despite government promises because there is no formal categorisation for offenders. It is impossible, he argues, to know exactly how many domestic abusers are in prison currently so perpetrators are "slipping through the net" on early release. 2:39 Mr Babarinde says the uncertainty means victims and survivors are not able to prepare for their abuser's release. He said: "They might need to move house or move their kids to a new school, shop in different places. All of these kind of things are so important, and so that's why that commitment the government made was so important." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: "Our thoughts are with all victims of domestic abuse - it takes immense courage to speak out.
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Palestine Action 'sets up a secret website' to recruit new members as support of terror group becomes criminal offence
Palestine Action has created a secret website to recruit activists in an attempt to thwart the Government's terror ban on the group. The organisation is directing its supporters to a secret platform under the name Direct Action Training. Under the website, which was registered late on Friday, just before the ban took effect at midnight, Palestine Action has been privately messaging potential recruits encouraging them to 'join the front line against Zionism', The Telegraph reports. The recruitment message, which was sent on the encrypted app Signal, declares: 'While Palestine Action is banned, we do not want this draconian move from the Home Secretary to deter your dedication to your solidarity with Palestine'. 'Direct action is for everyone, regardless of the name it falls under. We do believe that by staying focused and targeting the heart of the war machine again and again, the people will be able to shut the Zionist supply chain.' The website for Direct Training has its IP address in Iceland, which is not a part of any major international surveillance alliances and is known for its strong data protection laws. To register with the website, prospective recruits are required to fill out a form in which they are asked 14 questions ranging from their personal details to testing their 'dedication to the Palestinian cause'. The form also notes that training be aimed at 'dismantling the Zionist war machine in the UK'. The move comes after the Home Office on Friday welcomed a ban on Palestine Action, with the group failing to block its proscription as a terrorist organisation in a late-night legal bid. Lawyers representing co-founder Huda Ammori, whose father is Palestinian, asked for the decision to be delayed at least until July 21. The designation as a terror group means that membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Palestine Action argues it is a protest group that has never incited or encouraged violence, but does support civil disobedience. Activists protest against the continuing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians since October 7 - when 1,200 Israelis were killed by a Hamas incursion into the country. Police on Saturday arrested almost 30 people on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered in Parliament Square holding signs supporting Palestine Action, just hours after a ban on the came into effect. Around two dozen people, including a priest, professor and an emergency care worker who is just back from Gaza, sat in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square on Saturday expressing support for the group, which is now a proscribed terrorist organisation. They held signs saying: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Shortly after their arrival, police officers could be seen engaging with the protesters and the Met said it had began making arrests. Several people were seen being carried away by officers. A spokesperson for the force said: 'Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. 'The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence. Arrests are being made.' They later added: 'A total of 29 arrests were made during this afternoon's protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square. They remain in custody.' Campaign group Defend Our Juries said today's protest will be the first in a series of actions which will see activists take to Parliament Square every week. The Met Police issued a warning ahead of the protest, stating there are a number of events taking place in London this weekend and 'anyone attending should be aware that officers policing these will act where criminal offences, including those related to support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed'. Proscription makes it a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT) to invite or express support for an organisation through chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos, the Met said. It is also illegal to belong to the organisation or publish similar signs of support online. Police arresting protesters in Parliament Square were met with cries of 'Met Police you are puppets of the Zionist state' and 'leave them alone'.
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Unless we live within our means, Reeves' teardrops will become a torrent - for her and the British people: STEPHEN GLOVER
So that's it, then. After her unexplained tears in the Commons last week, Rachel Reeves has decided that taxes will have to go up again in the autumn Budget even though she previously said they wouldn't. The Chancellor told the Guardian newspaper on Saturday that it was impossible to rule out tax increases, which is a politician's way of saying they'll have to rise. She said that 'there are costs' after the welfare Bill was virtually abandoned last week.
