British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is making a visit to the Golders Green neighborhood, which is home to a large Jewish population, after the arrest of a man on Wednesday following a stabbing attack in which two Jewish men were injured, in London, United Kingdom, on April 30, 2026. Photo Hannah McKay / Reuters FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a visit to the Golders Green area, which is home to a large Jewish population, after a man was arrested on Wednesday following a stabbing incident in which two Jewish men were wounded, in London, Britain, April 30, 2026. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government could, in certain circumstances, ban pro-Palestinian marches because of their “cumulative effect” on the Jewish community, following the stabbing of two Jewish people in London on Wednesday.
Speaking to the BBC, Starmer said he would always uphold freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, but described slogans such as “Globalise the Intifada” at demonstrations as “totally unacceptable,” adding that those responsible should be prosecuted. Pro-Palestinian marches have become regular in London since Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza. Critics say the demonstrations have fueled hostility and become a focal point for antisemitism.
Protesters, however, say they are exercising their democratic right to highlight human rights concerns and political issues related to Gaza. The prime minister said he does not dispute that there are “very strong and legitimate positions on the Middle East and Gaza,” but noted that many members of the Jewish community have raised concerns with him about the repeated marches.
Asked whether the response should focus on restricting slogans and placards or banning protests altogether, Starmer said: “I am certainly considering the first option, and there are cases where the second is necessary.” “It is time to look at all the demonstrations and their cumulative effect,” he added, stressing that the government may need to consider new powers.
The United Kingdom raised its terrorism threat level to “severe” on Thursday amid growing concerns about foreign interference and potential violence, particularly targeting the Jewish community.
“We are seeing an increased threat targeting Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions in the UK,” counterterrorism chief Laurence Taylor said, adding that police are facing “an unpredictable global situation that is having local consequences, including physical threats linked to state actors.”
