(The story from May 2 has been repeated without any changes to the text)
LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government could ban pro-Palestinian marches in certain circumstances as the demonstrations had a “cumulative impact” on the Jewish community after two Jewish men were stabbed in London on Wednesday.
Starmer told the BBC that he would always defend free speech and peaceful protest, but that chanting slogans such as “global uprising” during demonstrations was “completely off-limits” and those who spoke out should be prosecuted.
Pro-Palestinian marches have become a regular event in London since Hamas attacks on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023. Critics say the demonstrations have stoked hostility and become a focus for anti-Semitism.
Protesters argued that they were exercising their democratic right to focus on ongoing human rights and political issues related to the situation in Gaza.
Starmer said he did not deny having “very strong legitimate views about the Middle East, about Gaza”, but many people in the Jewish community told him they were concerned about the repetitive nature of the marches.
Asked whether a tougher response should focus on slogans and banners, or if protests should be stopped altogether, Starmer said: “I think it’s certainly the former and I think there are cases of the latter too.”
“I think it’s time to take a comprehensive look at the protests and their cumulative impact,” he said, adding that the government needed to consider what further powers it could take.
Britain raised its terrorism threat level to “severe” on Thursday amid growing concerns that foreign countries are fueling violence, including against Jewish communities.
“We are seeing increased threats to Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions in the UK,” head of counter-terrorism policing Lawrence Taylor said in a statement, adding that police were also “responding to an unpredictable global situation that has domestic repercussions, including physical threats from state-linked actors”.
(Reporting by Paul Sandel; Editing by Keith Weir)