Israel birthplace 'scribbled out' on baby's UK passport form as probe launched

21 February 2024 , 10:09

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The passport application form has triggered an investigation (Image: Campaign Against Antisemitism)

An investigation has been launched after 'Israel' was allegedly scribbled out on a UK passport form.

A family were applying for a British passport for a young child of theirs, born in August last year. But after sending the application in, and it being returned by mail, the father’s place of residence, Israel, had reportedly been scribbled out.

The circumstances around the incident are not known, nor how the country’s name was deleted, but authorities are looking into it. The image was shared by the Campaign Against Antisemitism on social media. The mother's place of residence, also Israel, was left untouched whilst the father's wasn't.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Home Secretary has asked officials to urgently investigate this matter and appropriate action will be taken. While the facts and circumstances are being established, it must be reiterated that this government will not tolerate antisemitism in any form."

It comes during the continued war between Israel and Hamas, as almost 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, as hundreds of thousands of others face starvation, poverty and displacement within their home region.

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The conflict was reignited after Hamas and other militant groups surged across the border and killed around 1,200 Israelis, kidnapping a few hundred more. After conducting a campaign of air attacks on the Gaza Strip, Israel eventually invaded, and has recently threatened a follow up ground attack of Rafah.

This has caused concern amongst western allies who have backed Israel repeatedly because after the initial invasion, Israel warned Gazans to evacuate their homes and move southwards, towards Rafah - where they're now threatening to attack. Now around 1.5million Palestinians are displaced there, and there are fears that any invasion would significantly worsen the humanitarian crisis that charities have warned is unfolding there.

Palestinians yesterday flee their homes and migrate to safe areas as Israeli attacks continue on the Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City (Anadolu via Getty Images)

This comes as UK politics around the war is reaching another boiling point within the House of Commons this week. The Scottish National Party put forward a motion demanding an "immediate ceasefire", causing disquiet amongst Labour who have struggled to reconcile differing opinions within the party over the matter.

Recently, Keir Starmer introduced a new position on the ceasefire in an attempt to head off a mass rebellion, and introduced an amendment of their own. However, things were complicated further as the Tories tabled their own amendment, meaning it isn’t clear yet if Labour’s will see the light of day.

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors among the rubble following Israeli airstrikes on the west of Al Nusairat refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, yesterday (MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Despite initially backing Israel’s right to defend itself, the UK, like other western allies, have since had to increase pressure on the country amid the rocketing death count and destruction of Gaza.

Alongside the war abroad, there has been a rise in Anti-Semitism in the UK, with Jewish communities left feeling unsafe. The Community Security Trust, which monitors anti-Jewish abuse, found that two-thirds of the anti-Semitic abuse that occurred in 2023 happened after October 7.

Kieren Williams