Jury fails to decide if woman supported Hamas

A jury has failed to reach a verdict on whether a former student expressed support for Hamas a day after the 2023 October 7 attacks in Israel.

Hanin Barghouthi was accused of expressing an "opinion or belief" in support of the proscribed organisation during a speech at a rally in Brighton, East Sussex. The 24-year-old denies the charge.

The jury, which has now been discharged, told the judge at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday it could not decide after 15 hours of deliberations.

"It is clear that you have tried very hard to do so," said Judge Peter Lodder KC.

"But you made clear that there will be, in your own words, no movement," he added.

The Crown Prosecution Service is expected to decide whether there will be a re-trial next week, said prosecutor Michael Bisgrove.

During the five-day trial, the court was shown footage of Barghouthi's speech in which she tells the crowd "yesterday was a victory" and "beautiful and inspiring to see".

"We need to celebrate these acts of resistance," she said.

Barghouthi previously told the jury she had "not known" the full details of what had occurred on October 7 when she made the speech.

She described seeing a video on the morning of October 7 that appeared to show a "breakout", where civilians drove a digger into a wall in Gaza.

"I do not support Hamas," she said.

Barghouthi's defence Michael Mansfield KC described her as a "young woman of good character" and "without any background in terrorism whatsoever".

He said she did not mention Hamas in her speech and was concerned with "human rights".

"What she's on about is Palestine - not Hamas," Mansfield added.

Barghouthi was studying sociology and culture at the University of Sussex, where she was co-president of the feminist society, at the time of the rally.

She is due back in court for the hearing next Friday.

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