Supporting our communities - conflict in the Middle East

Latest updates

We continue to work closely with our local partners and groups to provide reassurance and support to diverse communities, particularly those that are impacted by the conflict in the Middle East. This includes:

• contacting and engaging with community and faith groups to offer reassurance and helpful information, such as safety advice
• continuing to work closely with police and other partners to promote safety, for example, at sensitive locations, including places of worship and community buildings, ensuring extra police resources are in place, with the council providing whatever additional assistance is required
• supporting the Westminster Faith Exchange to listen to the needs of local groups, with the ongoing aim to continue to meet regularly and keep the dialogue going
• delivering an ongoing proactive programme of contact from senior councillors and officers to visit faith venues and communities, including mosques and synagogues. The purpose has been to listen to local concerns and provide reassurance and assistance
• working with local community groups to hear about their concerns and share information
• promoting humanitarian assistance for all those affected in the region
• reaching out to local schools to offer support, including making specialist support available for children and families in distress 
• supporting police and other partners to facilitate protests in central London whilst also providing reassurance to our residents who may be affected

Statement from Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council

Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council, said:  

The strength of our city is our diversity, and we deplore all forms of violence and hatred, be it Antisemitism, Islamophobia or any other form of abuse which will not be tolerated. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by what is happening, and if able, we would urge people to support the humanitarian efforts in the region.

Along with our local community partners, we are calling for unity, calm and restraint during a testing time for our city. Our role as a local authority is to work with all faith groups, community leaders and the police to provide reassurance and safety to all our residents. We are reaching out to provide whatever help we can, and we are grateful for the work of so many local groups who are coming together to provide support across our communities.

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Image details: Leader and Deputy Leader's visit to Rabbi David Mitchell at the West London Synagogue.

Demonstrations and events in central London

We encourage residents and businesses to follow the Met Police’s social media feeds to keep up to date with the latest information about major events and demonstrations in central London @metpoliceuk

Find more safety information for our local communities.

The humanitarian effort in Gaza

We know many people in our city have connections across the Middle East and our thoughts are with everyone who is concerned for friends and family. We are deeply concerned about the appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza, and we continue to encourage those who can afford to do so to donate and support the aid effort operating on the ground and in the wider region. For information about the wide range of charities working to support all affected communities and how to support them, please visit the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) website.

Concerns about friends and family in the region

If you are concerned about a British national in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories, you can call the FCDO in London on 020 7008 5000 and find more advice on GOV.UK.

Lord Mayor’s message of equality and mutual respect 

The Lord Mayor hosted an event at City Hall to raise awareness of hate crimes, saying:

We are proud to be supporting National Hate Crime Awareness Week. Let us use this week to renew our commitment to being a community that does not tolerate hate and is bound together by values of equality and mutual respect.

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Westminster's Lord Mayor hosted a special reception to commemorate victims of hate crime for National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Help and information

We will update this page with any updates, or you can follow us on Twitter.

For information about humanitarian efforts and to support fundraising by the British Red Cross, Islamic Relief and Oxfam, visit the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) website.

Vist GOV.UK for the latest government travel advice, including contact details if concerned about a friend or family.

Latest updates from the Metropolitan Police can be found on the Met Police website or follow the Met Police on Twitter.

The latest from the Mayor of London can be found on their website, or follow the Mayor of London on Twitter.

For the latest travel information or to plan your journey, visit Transport for London or follow TfL on Twitter.