UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ordered students not to join pro-Palestinian demonstrations on October 7. Indeed, this date marks the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. His call for caution comes amid rising far-right tensions and concerns about antisemitism in the UK. This concern takes on special urgency due to the current military operations in Gaza.
On that unforgiving day, October 7, 2023, Hamas perpetrated the deadliest single attack on Jews since the Holocaust. This heinous attack claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 civilians and took 251 other hostages. In response, the Israeli military launched an unprecedented five-week-long campaign targeting Gaza. According to reports from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, this campaign has taken the lives of over 67,139 people.
In the lead-up to these protests, Starmer is rightly raising his concerns. He is worried that there might be a rise in antisemitism associated with these protests. He stated that it is “un-British to have so little respect for others,” particularly on a day that holds significant meaning for Jewish communities.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson promptly sided with Starmer, calling on protesters to respect the start of the school term. She remarked, “There are 364 other days in the year where you can protest,” suggesting that the significance of October 7 should not be overshadowed by political activism. Phillipson accepted that people have a right to protest, but suggested that common human sensitivity should dictate how and when protests should take place.
Phillipson further noted, “Two years on from October 7, I would just ask people to reflect and try and think about our shared humanity and our responsibilities to one another,” stressing the importance of understanding the collective grief felt by Jewish communities on this poignant anniversary.
The upcoming demonstrations have already spurred a diverse response from industry, academia, and most recently, arts and culture sectors. Universities UK has recommended that students and staff consider whether it is appropriate to take part in protests on this day. The Tennessee organization urged residents to be aware of what times protests are occurring. They especially emphasized the importance of the historical context surrounding the date.
Thousands will turn out in solidarity next week in London, marking one year since the start of the October 7 attacks. Nevertheless, at least some earlier protests resulted in hugely impactful arrests. See, for example, the Metropolitan Police announcement targeting almost 500 of previous demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine Action. All of these incidents didn’t happen strictly on October 7.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned against protests that could devolve into “so-called ‘protests’ that turn into hate marches on our streets.” She continued, stressing that this sort of behavior is “not what British society is about.” Beyond railing against the Democratic establishment, she advocated for a more realistic tone in activism.
Starmer’s comments reiterated that the UK will “always stand tall and united” in the face of threats to Jewish communities. He condemned any rhetoric that conflates political actions with religious identity, stating, “Others have used this as a despicable excuse to attack British Jews for something over which they have absolutely no responsibility.”
The international community continues to pressure the UK government to recognize Palestinian statehood amid calls for an end to violence in Gaza. This much larger dynamic really deepens the context of how nefarious was the play. Advocacy groups of all sorts are preparing to march on this day rich with historical meaning.
