Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for stricter measures against specific chants heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, following a surge in antisemitic incidents and a recent terror attack on Jewish individuals in London.
Starmer's Stance on Protest Chants
Speaking to the BBC on Saturday, Starmer emphasized his commitment to defending the right to protest but warned that certain phrases, such as "globalize the intifada," warrant tougher action. He suggested that repeated marches against the Gaza war have had a "cumulative effect," contributing to a rise in antisemitic incidents across the UK. The term "intifada," an Arabic word meaning "uprising," has been a focal point of controversy.
Recent Antisemitic Attacks
The call for action comes after a 45-year-old man was charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, a hub of London's Jewish community. Police have classified the attack as terrorism. This incident is part of a broader pattern, including arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in the capital.
Mark Rowley, head of the Metropolitan Police, warned that British Jews face their greatest ever threat, attributing the rise in antisemitism to social media making hate more mainstream. "The ghastly fact is that Jews are on everybody’s list," Rowley told The Times, referring to extremist groups across the political spectrum and Islamist terrorists.
Heightened Terror Threat Level
In response to the escalating danger, the UK's official terror threat level has been raised from "substantial" to "severe," the second-highest level. The government stated that this change reflects increased threats from both Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorists, not solely the Golders Green attack.
Rising Antisemitic Incidents
According to the Community Security Trust, antisemitic incidents have soared since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza war. The charity recorded 3,700 incidents in 2025, a sharp increase from 1,662 in 2022, highlighting the growing concern for the safety of British Jews.
