World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Investigation traces anti-Muslim UK campaign to Israel
An investigation by academics Marc Owen Jones and Sohan Dsouza traced a major anti-Muslim campaign targeting Britain to editing work linked to Israel.
The campaign ran on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, with advertising warning of an Islamic takeover and blaming Qatar.
It was most active before the 2024 UK general election and the anti-Muslim riots that followed the Southport murders.
From 2024 to 2026, the campaign’s material received more than 154 million exposures in Britain, according to the investigators.
They linked the work to Israel through an internet address, Hebrew-language file details and other technical evidence.
The investigation found no evidence the Israeli government was involved.
The campaign continued through 2025 and 2026, but the investigation gives no further details about what happens next.
An investigation by academics Marc Owen Jones and Sohan Dsouza traced a major anti-Muslim campaign targeting Britain to editing work linked to an internet address in Israel.
The campaign used paid advertisements and social media videos warning of an alleged Islamic takeover of Britain and blaming Qatar.
The academics recorded more than 154 million exposures to the campaign’s British-targeted material between 2024 and 2026.
The campaign’s first wave of British advertising ran before the 2024 general election, and the ads also appeared in the months leading up to anti-Muslim riots later that year.
The investigation found no evidence that the Israeli government was involved.
- Who
- Academics Marc Owen Jones and Sohan Dsouza investigated the campaign.
- What
- They traced editing work for an anti-Muslim campaign targeting Britain to Israel.
- When
- The investigation recorded campaign material from 2024 to 2026. It was reported on 9 November 2026.
- Where
- The campaign targeted Britain; editing evidence pointed to an internet address in Israel.
- Why
- The campaign promoted claims of an Islamic takeover of Britain and alleged that Qatar was behind it. The sources do not state who commissioned it or why.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The campaign’s first wave of British advertising ran in the months before the election.
Violent disorder targeting Muslims and ethnic minorities took place in cities and towns across Britain after the murder of three girls in Southport.
Campaign adverts and videos aimed at Britain reportedly received more than 25 million views.
YouTube videos claimed without evidence that Qatar was behind a Muslim independent candidate standing in May local elections.
Middle East Eye reported the investigation’s findings.
- Recorded exposures
- More than 154 million between 2024 and 2026
- Advertising spend
- More than £500,000 in 2024
- Video files examined
- 78 files recovered from campaign channels on Telegram
- Campaign platforms
- Facebook, YouTube and TikTok
- Editing evidence
- A fixed-line internet address in Israel
What people are saying
Between 2024 and 2026, our investigation recorded more than 154m exposures to its British-targeted material
The ads were also hammering the UK in the winter and spring leading up to the anti-Muslim riots that followed the Southport murders