1.78 Pounds: The Price of the New Political Poppy

A new commemorative pin sells for 1.78 pounds on eBay. The item, known as the Palestine Poppy, uses the red, black, white, and green colors of the Palestinian flag to replicate the shape of the traditional red poppy sold in Britain. Dr. Abdul Qader Ismail, a British-Pakistani NHS pediatrician, created the design. Profits from the sales are directed to Palestinian organizations, including Friends of Al-Aqsa.

The pin has drawn criticism in the days leading up to Remembrance Sunday on November 8 and Armistice Day on November 11. Several pro-Palestinian groups in the United Kingdom have organized counterprotests for November 11. The events coincide with the national day of remembrance for those who died in military conflicts. The groups involved include Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, Didsbury for Palestine, Stand With Palestine, and Oldham Peace & Justice.

Organizers describe the gatherings as 'Hands of Palestine' events. They use the slogan 'True remembrance means demanding justice today.' In a statement, the groups called Armistice Day an 'annual ritual of selective memory.' They stated they refuse to let memory be co-opted while state-sanctioned violence continues. The statement added, 'We do not stand in quiet compliance. We stand to demand an end to genocide, apartheid, and British state complicity.'

The planned gatherings will focus on support for Palestinian liberation. Organizers are demanding an immediate arms embargo and support for the BDS movement. Participants are encouraged to bring flags, keffiyehs, and placards to the events. Drivers passing by the protests are urged to honk in solidarity. The date of November 11 marks the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, when the ceasefire between the Allies and Germany took effect.

Traditionally, the public in Britain observes two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on this day. Remembrance Sunday, the Sunday closest to Armistice Day, features commemorative services at war memorials across the country. Separately, the Westminster branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign plans a demonstration outside the offices of the Conservative-run Westminster City Council. This protest supports the Zionism is Racism motion but is not directly aimed at Armistice Day itself.

Stuart Crawford, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and defense analyst, commented on the new pin for GB News. He described the Palestine Poppy as 'unashamedly political, designed to divide rather than unite.' The Royal British Legion, founded in 1921, has historically sold more than 30 million paper poppies and badges annually. The Legion uses the profits to fund work with veterans, serving personnel, and their families. The remembrance poppy design and specific pins are registered trademarks of the organization.