Teacher tells nine-year-old Jewish boy that Jews were to blame for the October 7 massacre, London school ignores training call

A Jewish nine-year-old at a state primary school in north London told his teacher about the Hamas massacre at the Nova festival, only to be told "actually it's the opposite" — a response he took to mean that Jews had attacked Palestinians and that Hamas were "freedom fighters." His father removed him from the school and transferred him to a Jewish school; he says his subsequent emails have received no reply and that attempts to arrange antisemitism training were rejected, with staff telling him they "can't be forced into politics."

Jewish leaders say the case highlights the need to act on recommendations expected from Sir David Bell's forthcoming government report on antisemitism in education.