British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that some pro-Palestine marches could be banned and individuals using the phrase "globalise the Intifada" could face prosecution, in an interview broadcast by the BBC on Saturday.

Starmer, claiming to be a defender of free speech and peaceful protest, said chants like "globalise the Intifada" are "completely off limits" and require tougher action. He noted ongoing discussions with police and suggested that banning some rallies outright would be appropriate in certain cases.

Earlier this week, Starmer labeled the slogan as "extreme racism" and called for prosecution of its users. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also warned that those using the phrase are "likely to be arrested."

The remarks come amid mounting pressure on Starmer following a spate of anti-Semitic incidents, including a stabbing attack in Golders Green, north London, which is home to a large Jewish community. A 45-year-old British national of Somali origin has been charged with attempted murder and remanded in custody.

Starmer visited the attack scene on Thursday and was booed by locals who accused him of failing to protect them and denounced pro-Palestinian marches. The UK subsequently raised its security alert level to "severe," the second highest, partly due to the Golders Green attack.

British authorities have faced repeated criticism for cracking down on pro-Palestine activism during Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. Last month, police arrested over 500 people at a mass vigil in central London opposing the ban on the group Palestine Action, with one demonstrator telling Al Jazeera that Britain has "descended into a non-democratic situation."

Source: www.aljazeera.com