The Daily Mail has published a retraction after falsely claiming that a Palestinian Green party councillor had praised Hamas for its actions on 7 October, 2023.

The retraction comes after Birmingham councillor Kamel Hawwash, who was elected in May, slammed the claim as “false”, and pointed out that it was based on the wording of a headline in a Lebanese news outlet, which he had no involvement in.

“Suggesting that these words were my own is a gross misrepresentation,” he told ITV News Central earlier this week.

Expressing support for Hamas in the UK is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The 8 June story about Hawwash was based on a news segment he appeared on titled “10 days since Al-Aqsa Flood: Courage in the face of aggression”.

In the segment, he discussed events in Gaza on 17 October 2023 amid genocidal violence by Israel.

“We have been asked to clarify that the title wording was the broadcaster’s, not his, and that he unequivocally condemns all attacks on civilians,” the Daily Mail said in its clarifications and corrections section, adding that it had deleted the false story.

Green party leader Zack Polanski highlighted the retraction on social media.

“Daily Mail posts lies about the Greens that are spread far and wide,” he wrote. “I wish half the number of people saw their apologies.”

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