Hundreds of demonstrators supporting Palestine, including many university students, gathered in various cities across the United Kingdom on Tuesday, defying Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s appeal to cancel the marches. Starmer had criticized the protests as “un-British” for occurring on the second anniversary of Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
At King’s College London, Palestinian flags were raised as organizers led the crowd through chants demanding a free Palestine and condemning Israel as a terrorist state. A group of police officers and students observing a break from classes watched the demonstration.
Vincent Ge, a second-year student studying computer science, expressed his belief that everyone has the right to protest for their convictions and criticized Starmer for labeling the protests as un-British without a clear definition of the term.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in central London often draw thousands of participants, reflecting a diverse crowd protesting against Israel’s actions that have resulted in significant Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza. These protests have escalated in significance following a recent terror attack at a Manchester synagogue.
The attack, carried out by Jihad Al-Shamie, a British man of Syrian descent, resulted in the deaths of two Jewish men. It triggered concerns about rising antisemitism in the UK, with critics accusing the Labour government of inadequate measures to address the issue.
According to the Community Security Trust, a British charity focusing on antisemitism, over 1,500 antisemitic incidents were recorded in the first half of 2025. The government has pledged to enhance security at synagogues and plans to grant additional powers to police to address disruptive protests.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged protesters to show restraint and allow space for the Jewish community to mourn, describing the ongoing protests as un-British. Despite calls to cancel a planned rally in London, nearly 500 individuals were arrested for supporting a banned pro-Palestinian group.
In response to the protests, Prime Minister Starmer criticized the acceptance of antisemitism within society and condemned the lack of respect exhibited during the demonstrations. Various rallies and vigils were scheduled across the UK to show solidarity with Palestine.
Marc Etkind, the son of a Holocaust survivor, joined the protests to advocate against the situation in Gaza and challenge the government’s stance on the rallies. He emphasized the importance of speaking out against injustices, stating that it is a quintessentially British trait.
Academic experts and commentators have criticized the government’s rhetoric branding protests as un-British, highlighting the historical significance of protests in the country’s democratic landscape and questioning the attempts to delegitimize dissenting voices.
Recent surveys indicate a significant proportion of Britons expressing little sympathy for Israel, reflecting evolving public opinions regarding the conflict in Gaza.
