Nadia Sawalha, a regular presenter on Loose Women, has been using her platform to spread antisemitic and anti-Israel conspiracy theories, even expressing support for Hamas—a proscribed terrorist organisation under UK law. In the wake of a shocking rise in antisemitic incidents across Britain, ITV’s decision to continue giving her airtime, particularly during Holocaust Memorial Day programming, sends a deeply troubling message: that such rhetoric is acceptable.
We refuse to stand by as media figures peddle narratives that incite hatred against Jews, whitewash terrorism, and distort history. That is why We Believe in Israel (WBII) is launching a campaign to hold ITV accountable.
What You Can Do
- Email ITV: Let them know that Sawalha’s rhetoric is unacceptable. Use the model email below or write your own.
- Sign Our Petition: We are calling on ITV to take responsibility for the content and voices it platforms.
- Complain to Ofcom: ITV has a duty to uphold broadcasting standards. If you believe Sawalha’s statements violate Ofcom’s guidelines on impartiality, fairness, and hate speech, we urge you to submit a formal complaint.
Why This Matters
Sawalha has repeatedly:
- Trivialised the Holocaust by appropriating the phrase “Never Again” to falsely compare Israel’s self-defence to genocide.
- Platformed pro-terrorist narratives, sharing posts that depict Hamas—the perpetrators of the 7 October massacre—as “freedom fighters.”
- Employed delegitimisation tactics, deliberately censoring the word "Israel" to align with extremists who deny the country’s right to exist.
Imagine if a presenter on national television had engaged in such rhetoric against any other minority. Would ITV remain silent? Of course not. And yet, when it comes to Israel and the Jewish people, a different standard applies.
ITV must be reminded that antisemitism does not exist in isolation. It fosters real-world consequences—violence, intimidation, and discrimination against Jewish communities. By normalising these narratives, Loose Women is contributing to an environment where hatred thrives.
We are urging ITV to:
- Publicly address the issue and clarify its stance on Sawalha’s antisemitic and pro-terrorist remarks.
- Review her position on the programme, as no public broadcaster should be promoting such divisive rhetoric.
- Commit to responsible journalism by ensuring that discussions on antisemitism and Israel include Jewish voices and credible experts.
This is where you come in. We need your voice to make it clear that this is unacceptable.
Model Email to ITV
Email: Loose.Women@itv.com / [email protected]
Subject: Urgent Concern – Nadia Sawalha’s Promotion of Antisemitism
Dear ITV,
I am writing to express my deep concern over Loose Women’s decision to continue featuring Nadia Sawalha as a presenter, despite her public support for Hamas and the repeated spread of antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media.
On Monday, Loose Women acknowledged Holocaust Memorial Day, yet astonishingly, antisemitism was barely mentioned. This omission was particularly jarring given that one of your regular hosts has been actively promoting rhetoric that fuels antisemitic hatred.
Sawalha’s social media activity includes:
- Comparing Israel’s military actions to the Holocaust, using the phrase “Never Again” to distort history and diminish the memory of genocide.
- Sharing pro-terrorist narratives, portraying Hamas—a proscribed terrorist group responsible for mass murder—as "freedom fighters."
- Deliberately erasing the word "Israel" (e.g., “Isra*l”)—a tactic frequently used to delegitimise the Jewish state.
Had she made similar remarks about any other community, the response would have been swift and unequivocal. That ITV has chosen to ignore this speaks volumes. It is disturbing that such views are tolerated on a national television platform, especially at a time when antisemitic incidents in the UK have reached record levels.
Your programme’s Holocaust Memorial Day discussion also failed to include a single Jewish voice, despite the fact that Jewish people remain the most targeted minority for hate crimes in Britain. Given the gravity of the issue, surely you could have invited a Holocaust survivor or an expert in Jewish history, such as Rob Rinder or a representative from the Holocaust Educational Trust.
ITV has a responsibility to uphold standards of fairness, accuracy, and impartiality. This includes ensuring that its presenters do not spread misinformation or engage in rhetoric that legitimises terrorism. I urge you to take this matter seriously and reconsider whether Sawalha should remain on Loose Women.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Click here to send your email
Sign the Petition
We are demanding that ITV take a firm stance against antisemitism and misinformation. Add your name to our petition and help us send a clear message: media platforms should not be complicit in whitewashing terrorism or spreading hate.
Sign the Petition Here
This is not just about one presenter. It is about a wider campaign to rewrite history, to delegitimise Israel, and to make antisemitism acceptable under the guise of "criticism." We cannot afford to let this go unchallenged. Join us in taking action today.