Protests across UK cities calling for a “global intifada” in the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict have prompted Sir Keir Starmer to announce a review of public order powers aimed at curbing violent chants that threaten the safety of British Jews, reports BritPanorama.
Starmer’s commitment follows the tragic murder of two individuals on Yom Kippur and coincides with escalating protests by students commemorating the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack. The demonstrations have seen activists openly calling for violence, alarming Jewish community leaders and sparking further calls for governmental action.
Speaking on his way to Mumbai for discussions with Indian President Narendra Modi, the Labour leader emphasized the necessity for enhanced measures to combat the rising threat of Islamist extremism in the UK. He stated, “Operational matters are very much a matter for the police, so there’s only so much the government can do.”
Starmer outlined that collaborative efforts with law enforcement must address how protests are handled, leading to potential revisions or expansions of police powers. “That has to be part of the review that we carry into what powers do we have and how they’re being exercised,” he said, indicating a thorough reassessment of the current public order framework.
The violent rhetoric seen during recent demonstrations includes contestants waving antisemitic signs and calls for the dismantling of Israel, the only Jewish state, raising alarms about the growing normalization of hate speech in political discourse.
A revised Home Office strategy introduced post-Yom Kippur enables police to obstruct or reposition protests based on their sustained disruption. However, critics argue that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must adopt a swifter and more robust approach to address not only the protests but the underlying rise in extremist sentiments.
In response to the unfolding situation, Starmer noted the need for immediate actions, emphasizing that reviewing public order powers is a critical step as his party aims to forge a unified response across governmental bodies to these emerging challenges.
