London, 31st March 2026 – The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has raised a formal complaint to the Metropolitan Police regarding David Soffer, an off-duty police officer who allegedly verbally abused a Palestinian journalist working for Al Jazeera.
Footage circulating widely across online platforms appears to show an individual identified as Mr David Soffer confronting an Al Jazeera film crew in Golders Green area of London. In the footage, Mr Soffer appears to approach and verbally abuse a Palestinian journalist, using derogatory language in Arabic including calling the journalist a “dog” and a “donkey” and telling him to “go back to Qatar” and to leave the area.
Whilst Soffer has rightly been suspended and an investigation opened into his conduct by the Metropolitan Police, it is clear that such behaviour, if established, represents a significant and irreconcilable departure from the standards expected of police officers, calling into question the individual’s compliance with core policing obligations.
It would constitute a breach of impartiality and neutrality and conduct of this nature risks undermining public confidence in the police’s ability to carry out their duties fairly and without bias. This is not least due to considerable concern regarding the Metropolitan Police’s policing of the pro-Palestinian movement in recent times, including the over policing of slogans such as ‘globalise the intifada.’
Members of the public must be able to rely on police officers to act fairly, professionally and without bias. If Mr Soffer’s alleged intimidation and verbal abuse of a journalist is not robustly dealt with by the Metropolitan Police, it risks eroding confidence not only in the officer concerned but also the institution as a whole.
ICJP now calls on the Metropolitan Police to carry out a thorough, swift and transparent investigation into the conduct of Mr Soffer, take appropriate disciplinary action where needed, and provide clear assurances that officers will uphold their duties of neutrality, professionalism, and respect for freedom of the press.
Órlaith Roe, ICJP’s Public Affairs and Communications Officer, said:
“It is unconscionable that the intimidation of journalists simply trying to do their job by a serving Metropolitan Police officer could be passed over by an institution that is already running scarce on public trust.
The alleged actions of the officer in question not only totally abandons the principles of neutrality, respect, and restraint, but such dehumanising verbal abuse of a journalist effectively amounts to discriminatory practice. This must be dealt with robustly by the Met Police.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
- For more information, or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at [email protected].
Image: Screenshot via Middle East Eye Youtube Channel.
