UK
Man sentenced over ‘smash the Jews’ social media posts
Peter Kandalaft, 58, was charged with sharing ‘violently antisemitic’ posts after a CST tip-off
August 21, 2024 16:26
Peter Kandalaft, 58, was charged with sharing ‘violently antisemitic’ posts after a CST tip-off
August 21, 2024 16:26A man has been given an eight-week suspended prison sentence for sharing “violently antisemitic” posts on X.
Peter Kandalaft, 58, was sentenced on Monday at Westminter Magistrates Court. He has also been banned from social media for 12 months and must complete 45 days worth of rehabilitation.
Kandalaft’s posts included “let’s smash the Jews,” “let them Jews die and pile them high,” and that “we all need a Jew-free world and world peace”.
Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright called Kandalaft’s posts “violently antisemitic” and “horrifying”.
Kandalaft’s violent tweets began following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza. One post was sent in response to an image of a dead IDF soldier. It said they would “look even better when I stamp on their Jew heads as well”.
CST's research has secured another conviction for an antisemitic pro-Hamas extremist, Peter Kandalaft.
— CST (@CST_UK) August 20, 2024
We will keep exposing Jew-haters and we will keep working closely with @TerrorismPolice and @CPSUK to bring them to court and conviction. https://t.co/WB2Pd8jwr5
CST first alerted Kandalaft to Counter Terrorist Police last December, following a number of concerning posts made on X. Kandalaft’s X account was quickly suspended, but CST’s screenshots allowed the prosecution to go ahead.
After Kandalaft pleaded guilty in July, CST shared: “CST thanks the police for their work in this case, and we will continue to work closely with polcie to provide reassurance and protection for the Jewish community”.
Kandalaft’s defence barrister Norman Cho said he regretted his tweets, which has “ruined his reputation”. “He is an intelligent man, he was overcome by events at the time,” Cho said.
Judge Tempia responded: “It is an extremely serious offence – you say your client regrets saying what was said on Twitter, but people say things online because they think they can get away with it, but that didn’t happen.”
Kanfalaft had previously pleaded to malicious communications in July. He was fined £200, and had to pay a £154 victim surcharge fee and an £85 cost of prosecution.