Pro-Palestinian marches may be restricted in London
Pro-Palestinian marches may be partially banned in the UK. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that such measures are being considered following attacks on Jews in London. This was reported by the BBC.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that some mass protests in the country may be banned. According to him, this is not just about individual events, but about the overall situation. He is concerned about how regular marches affect the Jewish community. “It is time to review protests in general and their cumulative impact,” Starmer said.
The Prime Minister also drew attention to the slogans chanted during such demonstrations. In particular, he called the phrase “Globalise the intifada” dangerous and stated that its use should be subject to criminal liability. The attack in London sparked this discussion. Two Jewish men—Shlomi Randa and Moisha Shain—were injured in the Golders Green neighborhood. Police classified the incident as a terrorist attack.
The suspect is 45-year-old Essa Suleiman. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder. Both victims have already been discharged from the hospital. Following this incident, the topic of protests has once again become a major issue in British politics.
The country’s Chief Rabbi called for a temporary ban on pro-Palestinian marches. According to him, they create “an atmosphere of hatred toward Jews.” Jonathan Hall, an independent expert on counterterrorism legislation, expressed a similar position. He also spoke of the need for a pause in holding such events.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch spoke even more forcefully. “It’s time to ban these marches,” she declared.
However, not everyone supports these ideas. The Green Party and Jeremy Corbyn’s political movement warn that restricting protests could undermine civil liberties. British law already gives the police the right to restrict or even ban protests. But this requires the approval of the Home Secretary. And this tool is used very rarely.
The last time a march was banned before March 2026 was back in 2012. Only recently did the government approve a ban for the first time in 13 years—that was regarding the Al-Quds march in London. Now the authorities find themselves caught between two challenges. On the one hand—security and social tension. On the other—people’s right to protest. And exactly how Britain will strike this balance will become clear in the near future.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting of the government’s emergency committee in connection with the knife attack in London.
