The Green Party’s new leader came under pressure on Tuesday to sack his deputy for defending Hamas‘s attack on Israel.
Zack Polanski won a landslide victory on a ticket of ‘eco-populism’ and a new focus on Left-wing issues such as supporting Palestine.
But his win was quickly overshadowed hours later by the emergence of a video in which his newly elected deputy said all people had a right to ‘fight back against occupiers’.
In the footage posted on TikTok on the morning of the attacks, Mothin Ali claimed Israel would use the ‘fightback’ by Hamas as a ‘pretext’ to attack Gaza.
Mr Ali also accused Israel of launching an attack on civilians after Hamas terrorists killed more than a thousand people in Israel and took around 200 hostages.
He told his followers that Israel were going to justify this by using the ‘pretext of the fightback by Hamas fighters – or supposedly Hamas fighters – this morning’.
He added that people should ‘support the right of indigenous people to have freedom and to fight back against occupiers’.
The deputy co-leader also added that Israel uses ‘weapon of anti-Semitism so effectively anyone who criticises Israel labelled anti-Semitic’.
Zack Polanski won a landslide victory on a ticket of ‘eco-populism’ and a new focus on Left-wing issues such as supporting Palestine
The row will put pressure on the new party leader to take action against Mr Ali (pictured), who was elected joint deputy leader on Tuesday
Destroyed buildings are pictured in the Gaza Strip from a position across the border with the Palestinian territory in southern Israel on September 2, 2025
Former Labour MP Lord Austin called for Mr Polanski to sack Mr Ali, saying: ‘Many people will be absolutely shocked that someone who made comments like this has been elected to such by a senior position.
‘Excusing terrorism and vilifying an entire people, betrays the values of peace and justice the Green Party claims to represent.
‘The new leader must show they have no tolerance for extremism and remove him from his position and kick him out of the party without hesitation.’
The row will put pressure on the new party leader to take action against Mr Ali, who was elected joint deputy leader on Tuesday.
Mr Polanksi, 42, is a former hypnotherapist – who once claimed he could help women to increase their breast sizes using the power of their mind.
The former Liberal Democrat – who is gay, vegan and lives in Hackney, east London – used his victory speech on Tuesday to call for taxes on wealth and nationalisation of companies.
In interviews on Tuesday, he said people could experience the England flag as ‘intimidation’ after Sir Keir Starmer said he had one in his flat.
His appointment signals a likely lurch to the Left for the party and a focus on social issues and support for Palestine over environmental concerns.
The insurgent candidate suggested Tuesday that he would work with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who is starting a new party on the Left.
In interviews on Tuesday, Mr Polanksi said people could experience the England flag as ‘intimidation’ after Sir Keir Starmer said he had one in his flat
A view of tent city as Palestinians live amid the Israeli attacks
Mr Polanksi – who was born David Paulden before changing his name – is a member of the London Assembly but not an MP, meaning his election will trigger another vote to elect a leader at Westminster
He warned Labour ‘we are here to replace you’ as he vowed to win 30 parliamentary seats for the Greens – up from four – and expand the membership and standing in the polls, which is around 10per cent.
He also said he wanted to reclaim populism from Nigel Farage and said that his party could learn from Reform’s ability to make the news.
Mr Polanksi once advised a Sun journalist who attended a hypnotherapy session that she could think her way to bigger breasts.
He later apologised for his past actions, telling LBC last year that it ‘does not represent my work, it does not represent me’.
He also became embroiled in an extraordinary exchange with former co-leader of the party Adrian Ramsey who he beat to the job.
During a pained joint interview on LBC, Mr Ramsay repeatedly refused to say he liked his colleague before eventually relenting.
Mr Polanksi – who was born David Paulden before changing his name – is a member of the London Assembly but not an MP, meaning his election will trigger another vote to elect a leader at Westminster.
The former actor beat Green MPs Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns, who were standing on a joint ticket, by 20,411 votes to 3,705.
Mr Corbyn congratulated Mr Polanski on a ‘stunning victory’, saying: ‘Real change is coming. I look forward to working with you to create a fairer, kinder world.’
Mr Polanksi also called for more migration, accused Sir Keir of being complicit in genocide in Gaza and has previously called for the UK to leave Nato.
A Green Party spokesperson said: ‘These are old allegations that were dealt with at the time.’
