SHOTLIST: LONDON, UK (OCT. 7, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN FLAGS AND KEFFIYEHS BEING DISPLAYED INSIDE OF CAFE 2. WRAPPED CHOCOLATES MADE TO SUPPORT GAZA (TWO SHOTS) 3. WATERMELON-THEMED KEY CHAINS 4. VARIOUS OF ACCESSORIES SUPPORTING GAZA 5. VARIOUS OF CAFE OWNER, FATEN SEHWAIL, PREPARING AND WRAPPING CHOCOLATE 6. VARIOUS OF FATEN SEHWAIL SHOWING CHOCOLATES TO CAMERA 7. SHOP OWNER MAHMOUS ISMAIL SEHWAIL AT REGISTER 8. PALESTINIAN FLAG WAVING INSIDE SHOP 9. POSTER OF PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN 10. BEVERAGES SOLD IN SUPPORT OF GAZA 11. GAZA-SUPPORTING ACCESSORIES (TWO SHOTS) 12. CUSTOMERS EATING FOOD IN CAFE 13. VARIOUS OF FOOD BEING PREPARED 14. VARIOUS OF CCTV FOOTAGE OF CAFE SHOWING TWO MAN ENTERING CAFE ASKING TO REMOVE PALESTINIAN FLAG 15. CAFE OWNER, FATEN SEHWAIL, SPEAKING TO REPORTER (English) 16. CAFE OWNER, MAHMOUD ISMAIL SEHWAIL, SPEAKING TO REPORTER (English)LONDON, UK - OCT. 7: At a local cafe in North London, a Palestinian couple is transforming homemade chocolate into a source of hope for Gaza, continuing their effort with the support of the local community, despite facing pressure from certain quarters. For Faten Sehwail and her husband, Mahmoud Ismail, their cafe in Islington has become more than just a spot for coffee and snacks — it's a hub of solidarity and a place of support for families in Gaza, where Sehwail spent her childhood. Since the beginning of Israel's genocidal attacks on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, she has lost dozens of relatives in her hometown of Beit Hanoun, which has been repeatedly bombed and left in ruins. "The first town they destroyed was Beit Hanoun, my town ...I lost more than 30 or 40 of my relatives — uncles, aunts, neighbors. Everything is gone," she told Anadolu. Driven by grief and a desire to help, Sehwail found a unique way to offer support to Gazans, crafting chocolate under the theme “Homemade Chocolate for Gaza.” Sehwail, 45, said she had never made chocolate until recently. It was not until December last year, after a visit from a Palestine Solidarity Campaign activist, that she decided to give it a try, using Belgian chocolate, a few molds, and with encouragement from her husband. Her initial batches of chocolate quickly gained attention, with people starting to ask for more. At a rally outside Islington Council, pro-Palestine activists asked her to set up a stall to sell their chocolates. She said they asked her to address the crowd: "I never prepared for a speech. I went there to just sell the chocolate … I took the microphone, and I started talking about what's happening in Gaza and how they live under the very sad conditions." "When I looked at the people in the rally, I saw, most of them started crying. And after I finished my speech … (Independent MP) Jeremy Corbyn asked everybody to buy my chocolate," Sehwail added. Since then, she said, a lot of customers started coming in, asking for the chocolate. "Right now, every month, there is a national march, and I sell some of my chocolate, some different items, some different stuff to collect money. And all the money, I send it to my friend and my family in Gaza to support them." - Attempts to force them to remove Palestinian flags, stickers Her husband, Mahmoud Ismail, expressed his steadfast support for Sehwail's effort as he sells various Palestinian-themed products in the cafe – including flags, cards, and bags, with proceeds sent directly to Gaza. He mentioned that Sehwail is doing everything she can to raise support funds by making chocolates, attending events, and preparing food and meals for people, all to help her family and relatives in Gaza. "Since she started her project, making chocolate for Gaza, we have received a very positive support from all the people here," Ismail, 60, said. The couple also organizes events in the cafe, featuring meals including local dishes from Palestine. Ismail said customers don’t just come for chocolate or coffee — they purchase products as a way to express their solidarity with Gaza. "We have a very positive reaction from them, they all support Palestine, and almost 99.9% of the people of this area are on the Palestinian side against genocide," he added. The "difficult" moments, Ismail said, include pressure from outsiders opposed to their efforts and campaign. He added that after complaints were filed, Islington Council attempted to force them to remove Palestinian flags and stickers from the cafe. "They came and told me to take everything down," he said, adding: "I refused.” He went on to say that the Palestinian flag is not only a symbol for Palestine, but it has become a "universal symbol" for people who support humanity. "I am proud of it, and I will never remove it," Ismail said, showing CCTV footage of the moment when the council officers arrived in the cafe. The UK government has faced longstanding criticism for applying pressure on pro-Palestine activism, whether through police actions or legislation. Recently, the Palestine Action group was banned as a terror group, sparking domestic and international backlash. Additionally, numerous pro-Palestine activists have faced legal action in the UK since October 2023. Despite these obstacles, Sehwail and Ismail say the strong support from the community has been empowering. Ismail also said that they often receive negative online reviews from individuals who have never visited the cafe, which he describes as a targeted campaign by pro-Israeli supporters. He also recalled an incident when a man came to the cafe and attempted to forcibly remove Palestine-themed stickers. Despite the pressure and complaints, Ismail remains determined to carry on, emphasizing that this is a matter of humanity.