Hamas-style green headbands are being sold on the e-commerce platform Etsy – in breach of their own policies as well as the law.

It is a criminal offence for someone to wear these headbands in public in so far as it indicates that the person wearing them supports Hamas. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers were actively seeking two individuals seen attending pro-Palestine protests wearing these distinctive green Hamas-style headbands. Photos posted online showed three individuals wearing the headbands on top of balaclavas.

UKLFI has written to Colin Stretch, chief legal officer of Etsy, asking him to confirm these items will be withdrawn from sale.

Caroline Turner, director at UKLFI, said: “At a time of rising anti-Semitism, it is extremely distressing  to see these Hamas-style terrorist headbands openly being sold on Etsy. These headbands are worn by those who seek to glorify Hamas, a proscribed terrorist group.

 “Selling the Hamas style headband on Etsy promotes the illegal activity of wearing Hamas military paraphernalia. There is no reason why these items should remain on sale on Etsy’s website given that they are in breach of their own policy guidelines and that selling such items and wearing the items in public can be a criminal offence.”

UKLFI’s letter to Mr Stretch notes that Hamas has been a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK since November 2021. In accordance with S13(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000, a person in a public place commits an offence if he— (a) wears an item of clothing, or (b) wears, carries or displays an article, in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.

UKLFI’s letter notes that selling these items also appears to be in breach of several of Etsy’s own policies, including:

– The Prohibited Items policy says the platform has a “zero tolerance policy” for prohibited items “particularly those that promote, support or glorify hatred, those that promote, support or glorify violence, or are unlawful”.

– The policy on Items that Promote, Support, or Glorify Hatred

– The policy on Illegal Items, Items Promoting Illegal Activity, and Highly Regulated Items

It comes after UKLFI revealed that both Etsy and Amazon have been selling Israel-hate merchandise. T-shirts, baseball caps, sweatshirts  and badges bearing the slogan “Make Israel Palestine Again” are being sold on Etsy. Meanwhile, T-shirts, sweatshirts and badges with the slogan “From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” are being touted on Amazon.