A man who entered the UK illegally and was later jailed has caused outrage after posting videos online showing off Christmas gifts and joking about his life in Britain.
The man, Abu Wadee, a 34-year-old Palestinian whose real name is Mossab Al-Qassass, crossed the English Channel last year in a small dinghy. He became widely known after he livestreamed the dangerous journey on social media, showing the overcrowded boat as it was approached by UK authorities. The video attracted millions of views online. He was later arrested and sentenced to nine months in prison.
Wadee had previously been a member of a Hamas unit in Gaza, a fact that has added to the public anger surrounding his case. He was released from prison last month and is now living in a bail hostel. Since his release, he has returned to TikTok, where he has posted several videos begging for money, laughing, blowing kisses at the camera, and saying, “I love you, Britain.”
In one video, he proudly shows off his Christmas presents, which reportedly included Lynx deodorant and Celebrations chocolates. In another clip, he shows off his new haircut and jokes that his hair looks better than everyone else’s. He has also appeared on livestreams chatting casually with a woman about his asylum claim, giving the impression that he is relaxed and unconcerned about his situation.
His online behaviour sparked a strong reaction from Chris Philp, who said Wadee was “laughing while living off British taxpayers.” Philp accused the government of allowing foreign criminals to take advantage of human rights laws to avoid deportation, arguing that the system should protect the public rather than allow offenders to openly mock it on social media.
Wadee was first detained by immigration officers after arriving in Kent, having paid smugglers around €1,500 to make the crossing. He was later housed in a hotel in Manchester. Court records show that before reaching the UK, he had already made asylum claims in Greece, Germany, and Belgium. He had no family or financial connections to Britain and had spent about a week moving between Calais and Dunkirk before attempting the crossing.
At Canterbury Crown Court, judges heard how he had livestreamed the journey on an overcrowded inflatable boat, despite being warned there was a serious risk of death or injury to himself and others. The boat was later intercepted by Border Force.
Further controversy followed reports that in September 2023, Wadee had posted a video on Facebook calling on Allah to “punish [Jews] completely,” raising serious concerns about extremism and public safety.
The Probation Service has said that approved premises, such as bail hostels, are closely monitored and highly supervised. However, critics argue that this supervision does little to address public anger when individuals are still able to post freely online.
After his release, the Home Office declined to say whether Wadee would be deported from the UK. That lack of clarity has fuelled further criticism, with many questioning why someone with his background and criminal history remains in the country.
The case has reignited debate over illegal migration, asylum rules, and whether the current system is being abused, especially when those at the centre of controversy appear to be openly mocking the consequences online.
