LONDON — A Jewish lawyer was detained by UK police for nearly ten hours after officers claimed his Star of David necklace had “provoked” pro-Palestine demonstrators outside the Israeli embassy.

According to reports from The Telegraph and Daily Mail, the incident occurred on August 31 under the Public Order Act. CCTV footage shows the lawyer being taken into custody following a confrontation near the protest site. He was later released without charge after prolonged questioning in a London police interview room.

The lawyer described his detention as deeply troubling, saying police treated his Jewish identity and religious symbol as “inherently provocative.” The episode has sparked outrage within the UK Jewish community and renewed concerns about selective enforcement and antisemitism amid heightened tensions following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

UK police have faced growing scrutiny over how they handle public order cases involving expressions of national or religious identity, particularly during ongoing pro-Palestine demonstrations across the country.