Starmer urges pro-Palestine protesters to respect the grief of British Jews'

"Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and there is justified concern about the suffering in Gaza but a minority have used these protests as a pretext for stoking antisemitic tropes, he wrote. I urge anyone thinking about protesting this weekend to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews this week. This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain."

"However, those protesting against the ban on Palestine Action have said cancelling Saturday's event would let terror win, amid pressure from police and the government to call it off after the attack in Manchester. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, added her voice on Friday to calls to postpone the event, after police said they wanted to be able to focus their resources on protecting Jewish and Muslim communities."

The prime minister called for protesters to respect the grief of British Jews after the Manchester synagogue attack. The prime minister urged activists to recognise the current period as a time of mourning and to avoid stoking tension. Peaceful protest was described as a cornerstone of democracy while concern about suffering in Gaza was acknowledged, but a minority have used protests to stoke antisemitic tropes. Protesters opposing the ban on Palestine Action argued that cancelling Saturday's event would let terror win. The home secretary and police urged postponement so resources could focus on protecting Jewish and Muslim communities. Organisers expected about 1,500 peaceful participants. More than 1,600 arrests have occurred since the proscription on 5 July. Condolences were offered to those who lost loved ones in the attack on Heaton Park synagogue and solidarity was affirmed with the Jewish community.

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