In an intervention by MI6, the UK’s only acknowledged overseas Intelligence body, the ‘Free Gaza’ debate, as it’s called, has been designated as a “Protected Issue” and therefore no longer open to further public scrutiny.
“This is to safeguard critical infrastructure, persons, and personnel across the world,” it has said, in a private briefing.
The change is not surprising. It takes into account the extent of destabilisation that such protest activity has incited for many years in the UK. It’s also heightened fears of attacks against UK embassy staff around the world.



