A teacher at a Catholic Girls’ school in Wimbledon has been suspended, following the revelation that he has apparently expressed support for Hamas on social media.

Ronan Preastuin, a religious education teacher at Ursuline High School, has called 7 October a “justified act of resistance”, written that Hamas “committed no crime” and called for “Glory to #Hamas”.

He has also posted about his virulent hatred of the State of Israel. He wrote that “#Israel is not a true Jewish state, but an inversion and perversion of Judaism.” He has prayed for God to grant victory to Hamas over “the grotesque, barbaric, idol worshipping invaders @IDF.”

His posts were first exposed by the GnasherJew website on 23 April 2024, and a few hours later Mr Preastuin had removed his X account.

• On 31 March 2024 he posted “Glory to #Hamas and freedom for humanity,  victory over the imperialist racists!  The destruction of the racist state of #Isarel is coming soon.”
• On 26 March 2024 he posted “You mean #Hamas and #Hezbollah freedom fighters and defenders of humanity”
• On 8 April 2024 he posted “We stand shoulder to shoulder with #Hamas #Palestine who have been invaded by American and European colonisers masquerading as a Jewish state.”
• On 1 March 2024 he posted: “Yes we will and are ALL praying for the soldiers of destiny #HAMAS. May God grand [sic] them victory in their homeland over the grotesque, barbaric, idol worshipping invaders @IDF.”
• On 22 April 2024 he posted “Hamas are not terrorists, they are resistance to occupation. #Israel is not a true Jewish state, but an inversion and perversion of Judaism. It’s stated goal is rebuild the Temple – to erect a false Messianic state in rebellion of G-d. Without justice prayers are in vain Amos 5.”
• On 19 January 2024 he posted “So yes October 7 was a justified act of resistance under a brutal and crushing occupation.”
• On 25 January 2024 he posted “I’m delighted to infirm [sic] you monsters #Hamas committed no crime. @IsraelinIreland. Their actions were entirely legitimate resistance to a criminal state masquerading as Jewish, colonising their country.”

Mr Preastuin’s posts appear to be in breach of s.12(1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000 because he expressed an opinion or belief that is in support of a proscribed organisation (Hamas) and in doing so was reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression was directed would be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation. He has been reported to the police.

The Ursuline School’s head teacher has confirmed  that Preastuin has been suspended from work and that the police have been notified.  The school has opened an internal investigation; and UKLFI’s letter will contribute to the evidence and outcome of this investigation.

A UKLFI spokesperson commented: “As a religious education teacher, in a position of authority over his students, Mr Preastuin is likely to influence them, and may well encourage them to follow his own beliefs, as well as stir up racial hatred against Jews  and Israelis. We are pleased that the school has taken swift action in this worrying case.”