Starmer says some pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel marches could be banned

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says that banning some pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel marches could be justified, and that the chant of “globalize the intifada” is unacceptable.

Starmer is under pressure to act amid soaring antisemitic attacks.

“I’m a big defender of freedom of expression, peaceful protests,” he tells the BBC. “But when there are chants like ‘globalize the intifada,’ that’s completely off limits.

“Clearly, there should be tougher action in relation to that.”

Starmer says he will always defend the right to protest, but there were worries about the impact on the Jewish community.

“I think it’s time to look across the board at protests and the cumulative effect,” he says. “In relation to the repeated nature of the marches, many people in the Jewish community have said to me, it’s the repeat nature, it’s the cumulative effect.

“Now, I accept that, which is why we intend to deal with cumulative effects,” says the former human rights lawyer and chief public prosecutor.

“I will defend the right of peaceful protest very strongly and freedom of speech,” Starmer says. “I’m not saying, of course, that there aren’t very strong, legitimate views about the Middle East, about Gaza. We all have deep concerns about it.”

Should some protests be banned to protect Britain’s Jewish communities?

Sir Keir Starmer tells @bbcnickrobinson he wants to deal with the 'cumulative effect'. pic.twitter.com/Lb1JGmvR3F

— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) May 2, 2026