UK police to arrest those chanting ‘globalize the intifada’

People publicly chanting pro-Palestinian calls to “globalize the intifada” will be arrested, UK police warn, saying the “context had changed” in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre.

“We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalize the intifada, ‘” the London Metropolitan and Greater Manchester police forces say in a statement.

“Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed — words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests.”

UK police have already stepped up security around the country’s synagogues, Jewish schools and community hubs.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar urged Canberra to act against a “surge” in antisemitism after Sunday’s attack.

In a post on X, Sa’ar said since the October 7, 2023, attack and the subsequent war in Gaza, “there has been a surge in antisemitism in Australia, including violent incitement against Israel and Jews”.

He referred to slogans heard at pro-Palestinian protests, such as “Globalize the Intifada”, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free,” and “Death to the IDF.”

While Britain’s prosecutors have said the phrases do not meet the threshold for prosecutions, “in the escalating threat context, we will recalibrate to be more assertive,” Met Commissioner Mark Rowley and the Manchester Chief Constable Stephen Watson say in their joint statement.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose wife is Jewish, denounced the weekend gun rampage in Australia as “sickening”, saying it was “an antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families”.