Arsenal kitman sues club for unfair dismissal over criticism of Israel's war on Gaza

English Premier League side Arsenal is facing legal action after a long-serving kitman said he was sacked over pro-Palestinian comments he made last year.

Mark Bonnick is suing the north London club over unfair dismissal, saying that Arsenal’s actions were motivated by his anti-Zionist beliefs.

Bonnick, a lifelong Arsenal fan, was suspended and then sacked in December 2024 after 12 years at the club.

His social media posts, dated between November and December last year, included: "Why should they be protected anymore than any other community? Some see this as the problem Jewish communities thinking they should be put before others' and "Hamas offered to release the hostages in October. Zionist Israel refused. Persecution complex."

He also said: "You abandoned them… refused to bring them home.. you silence was deafening… now you want others to scream… Morals integrity honesty none… Mark of Cain," in reference to Israel’s former minister defence, Yoav Gallant.

According to the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Arsenal’s investigation team said he was not being accused of antisemitism, but insisted that his posts could be perceived as "inflammatory and offensive," and argued that the posts brought the club into "disrepute".

ELSC said the decision to fire him was a knee-jerk reaction to an online smear campaign by pro-Israel accounts on X.

Bonnick’s legal team said Arsenal failed to "think critically" in the wake of the smear campaign, and "accepted the “Zionist, racist views" of those who targeted the 61-year-old online.

Bonnick also told UK newspaper The Guardian that he has previously tweeted on various issues, but his posts "only became a problem" after he spoke about Israel.

He stressed that he "feels strongly against what Israel is doing in Gaza," and maintained that he was "standing up for what’s right".

Bonnick said regarding his firing: "Israel is an apartheid state. I was sacked not for misconduct, but for expressing grief and outrage over genocide. Despite being close to retirement, I have no regrets."

He demanded an apology from the club, as well as his reinstatement. He is also urging Arsenal to take an explicit stand against anti-Palestinian racism.

His claim is expected to be heard next year.

ELSC decried his firing, and said in a statement: "As the UK continues to supply arms to Israel and FIFA refuses to sanction Israel despite widespread calls, workers like Mark are being punished for speaking out."

"Palestinian athletes are being bombed, stadiums are being destroyed and entire teams being lost. Meanwhile, English clubs like Arsenal silence their staff," ELSC said.

A protest is expected on Sunday in front Arsenal’s home stadium, before their final home game of the season against Newcastle.

In October 2023 amid the onset of Israel’s war in Gaza, the club’s MENA fans had expressed anger over its statement on the onslaught, saying they were "disappointed" at their failure to acknowledge Israel’s "publicly announced genocide" against the Palestinian people in the enclave.

The supporters also denounced the vocabulary Arsenal used to describe the atrocities in Gaza, which they said was an "unfolding human tragedy", while describing what had happened in Israel on 7 October, 2023 as an "attack".