Green Party Suspends Hakimi Over Anti-Semitic Posts in Camden Haverstock (London, 2026)

Key Points

• The Green Party has suspended Aziz Rahman Hakimi, their candidate for Haverstock ward in Camden Council, over social media posts blaming Israel for arson attacks on Jewish Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in March.
• Hakimi reposted claims that the arson was a “false flag” operation by Israel and alleged “Zionists” were behind 9/11.
• In 2021, Hakimi directly posted that Sir Keir Starmer was an “Israeli poppet” [sic] and shared a post urging Muslims not to smoke as it funds “the Jews to kill our brothers”.
• Camden Greens leader Lorna Jane Russell stated the local party “unequivocally rejects anti-Semitism and all forms of racism”.
• Labour and Liberal Democrats urged the Greens to drop Hakimi for “abhorrent and anti-Semitic” conspiracy theories.
• Green Party placed Hakimi under investigation over two weeks ago; suspension confirmed now, but his name remains on the ballot as nomination deadline passed.
• Hakimi, a civil engineer and local business owner, did not respond to requests for comment; Labour sources claim Green posters removed from his shop.
• Broader context: Green leader Zack Polanski apologised for criticising Golders Green stabbing arrest, faced anti-Semitism himself at Hastings rally where a man gave Nazi salutes and was arrested.
• Metropolitan Police treats Hatzola arson as anti-Semitic hate crime; four charged. Golders Green stabbing on 29 April treated as terror attack; two Jewish men stable, suspect charged.
• Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis says anti-Semitism is being “normalised” in UK. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley calls for 300 more officers against “epidemic of anti-Semitism”.
• Keir Starmer says Polanski is “not fit to lead a political party”. Other Green candidates in Lambeth and Croydon also suspended over social media controversies.

London (Extra London News) May 2, 2026 – The Green Party has suspended its Camden Council candidate for Haverstock ward, Aziz Rahman Hakimi, following an investigation into social media posts that blamed Israel for arson attacks on Jewish volunteer ambulances and promoted other conspiracy theories widely condemned as anti-Semitic.

The suspension, confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), comes amid heightened tensions over anti-Semitism in UK politics, just days after Green Party leader Zack Polanski apologised for criticising police handling of a Golders Green stabbing and faced a racially aggravated offence himself.

What prompted the Green Party to suspend Aziz Rahman Hakimi?

Aziz Rahman Hakimi, a civil engineer and local business owner standing for the Greens in Haverstock ward, Camden, shared social media content that sparked outrage. In April, as reported by the LDRS, Hakimi reposted claims alleging the March arson attacks on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green were a “false flag” operation orchestrated by Israel.

A dossier of candidates’ social media activity, shared with the press, further revealed Hakimi reposting allegations that “Zionists” were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Labour and the Liberal Democrats urged the Greens to drop him, describing the posts as “abhorrent and anti-Semitic” conspiracy theories.

As reported by LDRS journalists, Hakimi’s account also directly posted in 2021 that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was an “Israeli poppet” [sic].

Additionally, it shared a post urging Muslims not to smoke because the tobacco industry uses profits to “fund the Jews to kill our brothers”.

When the posts first emerged, Camden Greens leader Lorna Jane Russell said the local party

“unequivocally rejects anti-Semitism and all forms of racism”.

The Green Party initially told the LDRS that the comments “did not reflect the party’s views or values” and placed Hakimi under investigation over two weeks ago.

The LDRS can now confirm Hakimi has been suspended as a result of that probe. The Local Democracy Reporting Service approached Camden Greens to ask if they would still endorse his candidacy post-suspension, but received no response in time for publication.

Hakimi did not respond to a request for comment. Labour sources have claimed Green Party election posters have since been removed from the window of his shop.

Can Hakimi’s name be removed from the ballot paper?

Even with the suspension, there is no legal way to remove Hakimi’s name from the Camden Council ballot. Once the nomination deadline passes for a party-nominated candidate with a party description and logo, the ballot cannot be amended, even if the candidate is suspended or expelled.

If elected, the result would stand, and Hakimi would sit as an independent should he be stripped of membership—though the Green Party has made no formal finding of fact against him yet.

What are the details of the Hatzola arson attacks?

The Metropolitan Police is treating the March arson attacks on Hatzola Jewish volunteer ambulances in Golders Green as an anti-Semitic hate crime. Four people have been arrested in connection and subsequently charged.

Golders Green saw further violence on Wednesday, 29 April, with a double stabbing of two Jewish men aged 34 and 76. Both remain in stable condition. The alleged perpetrator has appeared in court on suspicion of the attempted murder of three people, with the incident treated as a terror attack.

How has anti-Semitism controversy affected Green Party leader Zack Polanski?

The suspension unfolds against a week of intense campaigning for Polanski, who faced criticism over his own remarks. On Friday, 1 May, Polanski issued a public apology to Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley after sharing a social media post criticising the arrest of the Golders Green stabbing suspect.

“Everyone in leadership has a responsibility for lowering the temperature at a time of such tension, and I apologise for sharing a tweet in haste,” said Polanski.

“Police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so. I have invited Mark Rowley to meet with me to discuss the police response and the wider issues raised in his letter.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responded sharply, stating Polanski is “not fit to lead a political party”, as reported by The Guardian’s political correspondent on 1 May 2026.

Polanski, who is Jewish, countered:

“Today the Prime Minister uses his office to attack the only Jewish party leader to score political points.”

Polanski was himself targeted by anti-Semitism on Thursday during a visit to Hastings. As reported by Independent journalists, a man gave a series of Nazi salutes while Polanski spoke, leading to an arrest.

Sussex Police said:

“Following swift enquiries, a 62-year-old man from Hastings has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated Section 4A public order offence of causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress.”

The Independent covered this under the headline detailing the rally incident.

What is the broader context of anti-Semitism in the UK?

Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has claimed anti-Semitism is being “normalised” in the UK following the Golders Green stabbing.

On Friday, 1 May, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley urged the government to fund 300 more officers on the streets to combat an “epidemic of anti-Semitism”.

Are other Green Party candidates facing similar issues?

Hakimi’s case is not isolated. Other Green Party election candidates have stirred controversy over social media posts, including two in Lambeth and one in Croydon, who has also been suspended.

What does this mean for the Green Party’s election campaign?

The scandals come at a critical time for the Greens amid local elections. Polanski’s apology and the suspensions highlight internal efforts to address perceptions of tolerance for anti-Semitism, but critics like Starmer question the party’s leadership fitness.

The party maintains it rejects all racism, as reiterated by Russell locally and nationally. Yet, with ballots unchangeable, Hakimi’s candidacy lingers as a potential flashpoint.

Police actions underscore the gravity: charges in the Hatzola case and the terror designation for the stabbing signal rising concerns over hate crimes targeting Jewish communities.

As campaigning intensifies, Rowley’s call for more officers and Mirvis’s warnings frame a tense backdrop. Polanski’s invitation to Rowley for dialogue aims to de-escalate, but political rivals seize on the missteps.

For Camden voters in Haverstock, the suspension may distance the official Green endorsement, though Hakimi’s independent potential if elected adds uncertainty.