UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has called on Thameslink to investigate allegations that a railway supervisor denied Hamas’s responsibility for the 7 October massacre and attempted to eject a Jewish passenger from Farringdon Station after he challenged a colleague for wearing a pro-Palestinian badge.

The incident occurred on Friday 9 October 2026, when a Jewish passenger noticed a Thameslink employee wearing a badge displaying the Palestinian flag, the slogan “Palestine Solidarity” and the letters “RMT”, referring to the rail workers’ union.

When the passenger questioned whether staff should be wearing political badges while on duty, another employee, identifying himself as Simon, who claimed to be in charge, defended the badge, describing it as a “human rights badge”.  Simon then declared that he did not support Israeli human rights because Israelis were “busy slaughtering civilians”.

The supervisor then went on to make a series of inflammatory claims about the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, including that most Israelis killed that day had actually been killed by Israeli forces operating under the “Hannibal Directive”, rather than by Hamas terrorists. He also claimed that Israel’s Prime Minister had been warned about the attacks a month beforehand but had deliberately failed to act.

The passenger, who found the remarks deeply offensive, says the supervisor then attempted to eject him from the station.

A Transport for London employee subsequently intervened and reassured the passenger that political badges should not be displayed by staff. The passenger recorded video evidence of the exchange.

UKLFI has now written to Thameslink Chief Executive John Whitehurst, demanding an urgent investigation into the conduct of both the first employee and the supervisor and clarification of Thameslink’s policy on political badges.

UKLFI warned that the alleged conduct could amount to harassment contrary to sections 26 and 29 of the Equality Act 2010, which protect passengers against certain forms of harassment related to race, including ethnic or national origins.

UKLFI also pointed out that employers can be held legally responsible for unlawful acts committed by employees in the course of their employment.

A UKLFI spokesperson said:

“Jewish passengers should be able to travel on Britain’s railways without being subjected to offensive conspiracy theories about the massacre of Israelis on 7 October, or threatened with expulsion from a station for questioning a political badge.

“Railway staff are there to serve passengers, not to promote political causes or subject customers to hostile political lectures. It is particularly alarming that the employee who allegedly behaved in this way claimed to be a supervisor.

“Thameslink must investigate this incident urgently, make clear that such behaviour is unacceptable and ensure that Jewish and Israeli passengers can use its services without fear of harassment or discrimination.”

UKLFI has asked Thameslink to clarify whether employees are permitted to wear political badges and slogans while on duty and, if necessary, amend its dress code to prohibit them.  It has also called for appropriate disciplinary action where misconduct is established, an investigation into whether managers have authorised political badges, and assurances that Jewish and Israeli passengers will be treated respectfully.