Journalist Sarah Helm, a former foreign correspondent for The Independent and spouse of national security adviser Jonathan Powell, has become the subject of a campaign by pro-Israel groups calling for a Metropolitan Police investigation. The groups are targeting a post Helm made on the social media platform X, in which she expressed solidarity with Irish author Sally Rooney. Rooney’s books are reportedly being withdrawn from the UK market due to her public support for the activist group Palestine Action.

In her post, Helm wrote, "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action." This statement has led to calls for law enforcement intervention, though the specific legal grounds for such an investigation have not been detailed by the reporting sources. Despite the pressure, Helm has maintained her position, effectively doubling down on her initial comments.

Zack Polanski, a prominent figure in the Green Party, has publicly defended Helm. Polanski characterized her stance as "common sense" and praised her for her "bravery" in the face of the backlash. The situation highlights ongoing tensions regarding the intersection of literary expression, political activism, and the activities of Palestine Action within the UK. While the reporting from Middle East Eye frames the incident as a matter of free expression being challenged by advocacy groups, there is currently no reporting from the perspective of the groups calling for the investigation, leaving the specific nature of their complaints against Helm unclear.