Trial of pro-Palestine activist begins

A woman used social media posts to invite support towards proscribed terrorist organisations, prosecutors have told a court.

The trial of Natalie Strecker, 50, who has denied two counts of inviting support for Hamas and Hezbollah has started at Jersey's Royal Court.

The prosecution said in a series of social media posts from 20 June to 11 October 2024, Mrs Strecker invited support for the groups, which are both banned organisations under Jersey's Terrorism Law 2002.

Crown advocate Luke Sette also used WhatsApp messages and voice notes sent by Mrs Strecker to argue she had invited support for Hamas and Hezbollah. The trial continues.

Mr Sette opened the prosecution's case by saying the case was not about political issues in Palestine or "silencing those campaigning about what's been called a genocide in Gaza".

However, the prosecution went through posts by Mrs Strecker on social media platforms X and TikTok to argue she had invited support for Hamas and Hezbollah.

In one post on X brought up in court, the defendant allegedly said: "As we witness the genocide of Palestinians with no intervention by what appears an inherently racist international community and as Israel has been bombing civilians in Lebanon alongside strikes in Syria, I believe Hezbollah maybe Palestine's last hope."

The prosecution showed another video posted on X on 9 October last year in which the court was told Mrs Strecker described Hamas as "the resistance".

The court also heard in an interview with the police after her arrest, Mrs Strecker was asked if she thought Hamas were a terrorist organisation.

She replied: "I think they have undertaken terrorist acts, but they have legitimate grievances.

"Does that mean I support them? No."

The prosecution also played WhatsApp messages and voice notes Mrs Strecker had allegedly sent friends.

As one voice note was played in court, Mrs Strecker broke down in tears.

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