Starmer condemns planned Gaza anniversary protests, warning of hate and rising antisemitism

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged students across the United Kingdom not to join pro-Palestinian protests planned for Tuesday, marking the second anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel.

In a strongly worded appeal, Starmer warned that such demonstrations risk becoming a platform for “rising antisemitism on our streets”, describing them as “un-British” and deeply disrespectful to victims of the massacre.

“Time does not diminish the evil we saw that day,” the prime minister wrote in an opinion piece for The Times, published on Monday evening. “Today, on the anniversary of the atrocities of October 7, students are once again planning protests. This is not who we are as a country. It’s un-British to have so little respect for others. And that’s before some of them decide to start chanting hatred towards Jewish people all over again.”

His comments come amid heightened security for Jewish communities, following last week’s deadly synagogue attack in Manchester, and ahead of demonstrations expected in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Bristol.

University groups across the UK have called for marches demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and stronger action against Israel’s military campaign. Student organisers from London colleges are planning a joint demonstration in the capital on Tuesday morning, despite warnings from both ministers and police to postpone.

The Metropolitan Police said it expects “significant disruption” in central London, while forces in other major cities have been placed on alert. Nearly 500 people were arrested on Saturday at a separate protest in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action, which went ahead in defiance of official appeals for calm.

Starmer said Britain must “stand tall and united” against hate, insisting his government “will not tolerate intimidation or abuse directed at Jewish people.” He added: “Our Jewish communities have endured rising antisemitism on our streets and in our institutions. We must be absolutely clear: this country will always stand on the side of those who face hatred.”

The prime minister’s intervention comes just weeks after his government recognised Palestinian statehood, a move he said was aimed at creating “a pathway to lasting peace.” However, critics have accused him of inconsistency for calling for restraint at pro-Palestinian marches while maintaining close ties with Israel.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused organisers of allowing “so-called ‘protests’ that turn into hate marches on our streets,” warning that “the same hatred that fuelled the barbaric attacks of October 7 still festers today.”

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick went further, calling Tuesday’s planned protests a “disgrace,” while Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham urged the government to increase funding for policing. “We face similar pressures as the Met with the largest Jewish community outside London,” Burnham said. “But we don’t receive the same exceptional funding to deal with those additional pressures.”

The government’s concerns have been amplified by the situation in Gaza, where 67,139 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s offensive began in response to the Hamas-led attack in 2023, according to the territory’s health ministry. Around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 people taken hostage in that initial assault.

Starmer’s warning also reflects the growing political tension surrounding the second anniversary of the attack. The day coincides with ongoing peace negotiations in Egypt, where US President Donald Trump is attempting to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas.

For now, the prime minister’s message to students is unambiguous: respect the anniversary, avoid protests, and stand against hate. “It’s not who we are as Britons,” he said, “to dishonour victims by turning a day of remembrance into a platform for division.”