The former British prime minister's wife's sister complained of a lack of determination to "hate all Jews or just take Jewish life".

08:07, Fri, Jan 9, 2026 Updated: 08:11, Fri, Jan 9, 2026

Lauren Booth pictured smiling in front of crowd

British journalist and activist Lauren Booth is the sister-in-law of Tony Blair (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Sir Tony Blair's sister-in-law has triggered outrage after describing October 7 as a "legendary day". In 2023, Palestinian terror group Hamas murdered more than 1,200 innocent men, women and children in Israel in the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Now, Lauren Booth, 58, a journalist born in Britain who converted to Islam, said the massacre was a "tipping point", and "only Allah knows" how many "millions" would read the Quran as a result.

Cherie Blair's half-sister also told Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak that "after October 7, this October 7, a legendary day in the Ummah's history, yes, we can say that people are now picking up the Quran because of the steadfastness and sabr [patience] of the people of Gaza".

In December, it was reported that Sir Tony had been dropped from Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan.

Lauren Booth wears hijab during speech

Booth converted to Islam (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

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It came after Arab and Muslim nations were said to have objected to his involvement on the US President's "peace council".

Booth, who lives in Istanbul, added during her interview that she had been "annoyed" with Palestinians over what she said was a lack of determination to "hate all Jews or just take Jewish life".

"I got a little bit annoyed with the Palestinians when I met them at first because I thought they had Stockholm syndrome," she said.

Booth added: "Because not only were they not determined to hate all Jews or just take Jewish life, they said Allah will sort this out for us… we must be steadfast.

Tony Blair on blue background

Tony Blair has reportedly been dropped from Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

"And I was so angry that I said you really need to be resisting this in a different way."

The footage was rediscovered by an investigation led by Israeli journalist Elchanan Groner of the Hakol Hayehudi news site.

Booth told The Mail: "I continue to advocate for the right of Palestinians to live free from occupation. The UN recognises the right to resist against foreign forcible actions that deprive people of their right to self-determination.

"Within that understanding, I do not advocate for violence against any religious or racial group."