Welcome to topsy-turvy Britain, where it’s opponents of Israel’s war who are the extremist ‘mob’ | Owen Jones

Apologists for the mass slaughter of Palestinians are held up as mainstream, respectable moderates. Meanwhile, the destruction of Gaza goes on

A new consensus has emerged in British politics: peaceful protesters are dangerous, hateful extremists, but apologists for the mass slaughter of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians are mainstream, respectable moderates. From his prime ministerial bully pulpit, Rishi Sunak declares there is a growing consensus" that mob rule is replacing democratic rule". The world has been turned upside down, and you are entitled to ask why.

How this all unfolded is instructive. Last week, the Scottish National party used one of its three annual opposition days to table a motion demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Labour was in a bind: under pressure from voters who are opposed to Israel's brutal war, a huge parliamentary rebellion beckoned, with shadow ministers prepared to resign.

Owen Jones is a Guardian columnist