George Galloway is sworn in to Parliament - before immediately comparing Israel to the Nazis: New Rochdale MP accuses Netanyahu of 'Holocaust' in Gaza, calls Hamas a 'legitimate government' and says the 'next election will be about Muslims'

George Galloway likened Israel to Nazi Germany today, suggesting the country was committing a 'holocaust' in Gaza after taking his seat as Rochdale MP.

In a highly inflammatory Westminster press conference conducted after taking his seat Mr Galloway said that the Palestinians were the victims of a 'genocide' at the hands of the Israeli military. 

He also refused to condemn Hamas, saying they had been chosen by the people of Gaza in an election.

After winning his seat by running on a pro-Palestinian platform he said 'the next election will be about Muslims'. 

He defended his views by telling reporters: If the by-election had been in February of 1940 or ‘41, would anyone seriously have condemned me for putting the crimes of the Holocaust at the centre of my election campaign?'

And in the wide-ranging session Mr Galloway, a former presenter on the now-banned Russia Today television channel refused to back Britain's support for Ukraine against Russia. 

The Workers Party of Britain leader officially took his new seat this afternoon, nine years after last sitting on the green benches. He was accompanied by Alba's former SNP MP Neale Hanvey (left) and Tory Sir Peter Bottomley.

While being sworn in he exchanged a nod with Levelling Up Minister Michael Gove, who was waiting to take questions.

The Workers Party leader aid he planned to walk into the house alongside Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who is a close political ally. But Mr Corbyn was not there. 

Mr Galloway was sworn in today as he made his return to the Commons - but his mate Jeremy Corbyn failed to turn up. 

The Workers Party of Britain leader officially took his new seat this afternoon, nine years after last sitting on the green benches. 

His arrival after last week's shock by-election win in Greater Manchester came amid fears the pro-Palestinian agitator will fuel simmering tension over Gaza inside and outside the Commons.

He had claimed that former Labour leader Mr Corbyn would be one of the two MPs who traditionally escort new members into the Commons. 

But in the event he was accompanied by Alba's former SNP MP Neale Hanvey and Tory Sir Peter Bottomley, who stepped in in his role as Father of the House (longest serving MP) because no one else was prepared to do it. 

Mr Galloway later said Mr Corbyn had 'a long-standing commitment' that prevented him attending.

While being sworn in Mr Galloway exchanged a nod with Levelling Up Minister Michael Gove, who was waiting to take questions. It was a rare occasion when he appeared in public without a hat, as it is against Commons rules.

Mr Galloway could not resist taking a dig at politicians today as the hardline socialist made a chauffeur-drive return to their ranks in Westminster today.

He arrived at Parliament today in a sleek dark Volvo driven by an aide to be greeted by a crowd of photographers and camera crews, telling them: 'I always loved the building - the people in it, not quite so much.'

Arriving in the Commons this afternoon he said: 'I swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.'

Mr Galloway shook hands and had a brief chat with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle before exiting the chamber.

It comes amid fears for MPs safety after extreme elements within the Gaza ceasefire protest movement target individual politicians in Westminster and at their homes and constituency offices.

Mr Galloway was due to meet Sir Lindsay this morning ahead of his introduction. One senior source told MailOnline it would be 'interesting to say the least' given Sir Lindsay's focus on MPs' security.

The Workers Party said Mr Galloway planned to make his first speech since returning at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

The new MP already appears to be scheming even before his return to the green benches after a gap of nine years.

In an interview conducted just after his election win on Thursday last week, he suggested teaming up with Jeremy Corbyn - who sits as an independent after being kicked out of Labour over anti-Semitism -  to form a new party. 

Mr Galloway could not resist taking a dig at politicians today as the hardline socialist made a chauffeur-drive return to their ranks in Westminster today. 

The newly elected MP for Rochdale had boasted that former Brexit secretary Sir David Davis would accompany him when he takes his seat in the House of Commons. But Mr Davis has declined. It is thought that the longest-serving MP in the Commons, Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley, was asked to take part in the swearing-in ceremony instead.

Both former Labour MPs, they were vocal in their opposition to the Iraq war and are now among the most prominent critics of Israel's actions concerning the war in Gaza. 

Asked what he would say to Mr Corbyn he said: 'You saw what happened last night. Set up, announce an alliance of the remaining socialists in the country. 

'You lead it, I'll support it. You be leader, and let's go! Time is running out, the general election might be three months from now.'

However Mr Galloway faces some embarrassment on his return after a senior Tory snubbed his request to swear him in.

The newly elected MP for Rochdale had boasted that former Brexit secretary Sir David Davis would accompany him when he takes his seat in the House of Commons. But Mr Davis has declined.

Treasury Minister Bim Afolami told GB News: 'The fact that people don't seem to want to do it is an indication of the standing with which he's held in the House of Commons, which is not very high.'

On Friday, Mr Galloway, the leader of the Workers Party of Britain, had told Sky News: 'David Davis is one of the great parliamentarians of today and this age.'

However, after Mr Galloway's deputy - former Labour MP Chris Williamson - refused to condemn Hamas's terror attack on Israel, Sir David had a change of heart.

'I was happy to introduce George because I'm a believer in free speech,' he said. 'But his deputy was trying to justify the October 7 attacks and that crosses the line.'

The fedora-wearing, Pro-Gaza firebrand who gave Starmer a bloody nose 

'Gaza George' Galloway's fervent supporters claim that the new Right Honourable Member of Parliament for Rochdale has now had more comebacks that Muhammad Ali.

Nearly 18 years to the day since his notorious appearance on Celebrity Big Brother - where he embraced Sir Jimmy Savile and embarrassed himself as he licked pretend milk out of actress Rula Lenska's hand, while purring - he is back in the big time when many had written him off.

His landslide victory in Rochdale, a particularly terrible blow for Sir Keir Starmer, is yet another extraordinary twist in the career of the 69-year-old from Dundee.

Mr Galloway has won one of the most tumultuous by-elections in recent times by mainly targeting Muslim voters and being pro-Palestine as the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on. His only really local policies appeared to be to bring back a maternity hospital and a Primark. 

Rochdale was the seventh parliamentary victory for the constituency-hopping politician. In those four decades he has also been married four times and had six children.

From 1979 to 1999, Galloway was married to his former teenage sweetheart, Elaine Fyffe. 

George Galloway with his wife Dr Amineh Abu-Zayyad. She divorced him over his unreasonable behaviour

Galloway with his third wife Rima Hussein - who slammed his morals when they split

His Celebrity Big Brother appearance became best known for the bizarre moment he mimicked licking imaginary milk from Rula Lenska's cupped hands as he pretended to be a cat

Galloway's political career has been extraordinary and tumultuous - just like his love life.

From 1979 to 1999, Galloway was married to his former teenage sweetheart, Elaine Fyffe. 

They had a daughter, Lucy. The couple separated in 1987 but did not divorce for a further 12 years.

The politician had already taken Dr Amineh Abu-Zayyad, a Palestinian scientist, as a second wife in a Muslim ceremony in 1994. 

A year after his divorce from Elaine in 1999, he married Dr Abu-Zayyad in a civil ceremony.

In 2009 Dr Abu-Zayyad obtained an uncontested divorce citing unreasonable behaviour. In divorce papers she said the marriage had irretrievably broken down because his friendships with other women left her depressed.

By this time Galloway already had a son, Zein, with his Lebanese former researcher, Rima Husseini, whom he had married in a Muslim ceremony in 2005.

And in 2012 he married anthropologist Putri Gayatri Pertiwi - 30 years his junior - in Amsterdam.

The ceremony, in a hotel, happened less than 48 hours after the MP took the Labour stronghold of Bradford West with an astonishing 10,000-plus majority for his Respect party.

The fourth Mrs Galloway is a Dutch-born researcher of Indonesian extraction who took a degree in cultural anthropology at the University of Utrecht. She also studied in Amsterdam before taking a masters degree in children’s rights at Amsterdam University. 

The couple remain married and she was at his side in Rochdale as he won last night.

A king of choosing sides, often with great controversy, he is a more likely to back President Putin's Russia and the Ayatollahs' Iran than those leading Britain. When Sergei Skripal was poisoned with Novichok in Salisbury, Galloway went on TV to say Russia should at the 'bottom of the list' of suspects.

He has been Labour, Independent Labour, Respect and now the Workers Party of Britain, whose campaign literature boasted that the fedora-hatted firebrand was a friend to Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez and Yasser Arafat. 

Galloway appalled many with his visit to Iraq's murderous dictator Saddam Hussein in the 1990s when he praised the despot for his courage, strength and indefatigability – although he always insisted his comments were addressed to the Iraqi people. 

And while Hussein and the rest of his comrades are now dead, Galloway is very much alive - and kicking. One supporter said that after stints on Iranian and Russian-backed TV and no seat in Parliament since Bradford West nine years again: 'George is important again'.