A Palestinian migrant who previously called for violence against Jewish people and was jailed for illegal entry into the United Kingdom is currently living in taxpayer-funded accommodation in Corby, Northamptonshire, while facing calls for deportation. Mosab Abdulkarim al-Gassas, also known as Abu Wadee, entered the UK by crossing the English Channel in a small boat in March last year and pleaded guilty to immigration offences. He was sentenced to nine months in prison and released after serving part of his term under an early release scheme.

Gassas, 34, gained attention for his social media posts supporting Palestinian militant groups and Hamas, including videos depicting clashes with Israeli forces and calls for violence against Jews. He has publicly acknowledged that some of these statements were made while living under Hamas rule in Gaza, where he said expressing such views was compulsory. Since his release, he has remained active on social media with a following on TikTok, where he has encouraged local residents to chant pro-Palestinian slogans.

The local Labour Member of Parliament for Corby and East Northamptonshire, Lee Barron, has urged the Home Office to expedite Gassas’s deportation, describing his presence in the community as “appalling.” Barron has signaled plans to raise the issue with the Home Secretary. Neighbours have also expressed concern about the situation, particularly given Gassas’s prior statements and the fact that his accommodation is part of a house of multiple occupancy funded by the government’s asylum dispersal scheme.

A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that any foreign national who receives a prison sentence in the UK is referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity and barred from returning, and that efforts were underway to remove Gassas from the country. The exact timeline for his deportation process remains unclear.

Gassas’s case has heightened tensions amid an ongoing influx of migrants arriving in the UK via small boats, with nearly 1,700 recorded in the past week. His accommodation costs the taxpayer an estimated £23.25 per night, plus weekly subsistence payments, as part of the government’s policy to house asylum seekers outside of hotels.

In statements to local media, Gassas has distanced himself from Hamas in his current situation, claiming he no longer supports the group and highlighting his intention to remain in Corby, where he says he has formed friendships, including with Jewish people.

The case underscores broader challenges faced by UK authorities in managing immigration and asylum claims involving individuals with potentially inflammatory past associations, raising questions about public safety, community impact, and the pace of deportation proceedings.