Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has advised students against participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations planned for Tuesday, which marks the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. He highlighted concerns about “increasing antisemitism in our streets.”

Sir Keir described it as “un-British” to hold protests on such a significant date, emphasizing that it has been exploited by some as a “despicable justification for targeting British Jews.”

In light of a recent deadly incident at a synagogue in Manchester, the UK has stepped up security measures to safeguard Jewish communities.

Students from universities in London are organizing a collective march in the capital, with additional protests anticipated in cities such as Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Sheffield.

Universities UK, which represents the higher education sector, acknowledged that while universities are platforms for expressing diverse opinions, participants in the October 7 protests should reflect on the significance of the date.

“Time does not lessen the atrocity we witnessed that day,” Sir Keir stated in an article for the Times newspaper’s Tuesday edition.

He pointed out that while some individuals have protested against the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, “others have misguidedly seized this moment to target British Jews for issues they have no control over.”

“Let me clarify: individuals on our streets calling for violence against Jewish people they have never encountered, for actions they did not commit,” he remarked.

“As we commemorate the appalling events of October 7, students are once again set to protest.

“This is not reflective of our identity as a nation. It is un-British to show such disregard for others. Not to mention the possibility of some resorting to hateful chants against Jewish individuals again.”

Sir Keir emphasized that the UK will “always stand resolute and united” against those who seek to cause harm to Jewish communities.

“Our Jewish communities have faced an escalation of antisemitism in our streets and across the country,” he added.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch cautioned against “so-called ‘protests’ that morph into hatred-filled marches on our streets.”

“Two years after the tragic massacre on October 7, we must confront the uncomfortable truth: the same animosity that fueled those horrific attacks continues to persist today,” she stated.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick condemned the planned protests on Tuesday, labeling them a “disgrace.”

Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, urged the government to allocate more funds for policing in the area following the attack on the synagogue last Thursday.

He mentioned that Greater Manchester Police are under “constant strain” and called for the government to “reassess funding” for the force to ensure it can continue providing the “reassurance that all communities need.”

On ITV’s Peston program, he said: “We face similar demands as the Metropolitan Police due to having the largest Jewish community outside London, yet we do not receive equivalent exceptional funding to address those extra demands.”

Vivienne Stern, the head of Universities UK, remarked: “While universities should be arenas for the discussion of challenging viewpoints, and maintain a legal obligation to uphold free speech, we urge students and staff who partake in protests to bear in mind that October 7 commemorates a heinous attack on innocent lives, and that supporting a terrorist organization is a criminal act.”