Thousands march to protest ‘wave of anti-Semitism’ after Gaza protests

Around 60,000 people marched through central London to combat a wave of anti-Semitism they see becoming ‘normalised’ in British society.

Former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Gove, Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis united to lead the march to Parliament Square the day after 200,000 pro-Palestine activists took over the area.

Addressing the crowd in Parliament Square, the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis urged Britain to ‘wake up’.

He said: ‘Since the attack on Israel on the 7th of October 2023, we have seen an explosion of hatred right across the UK. A government-backed report recently told us that antisemitism has now become normalised within middle-class Britain.

‘You can expect to see anti-Jewish prejudice in our professional life. Within our cultural life and in the public centre. Antisemitism is rife right across the UK.

‘You will see it, you will hear it, you will feel it.’

A minute’s silence was held in memory of the 1,200 killed on October 7 2023 and to maintain awareness of those who remain captive in the dungeons of Gaza.

One activist blew a shofar (ram’s horn), which is customary on the approach the Jewish New Year.

Campaign Against anti-Semitism said, on X: ‘It is a clarion call to wake up, and no message is more important right now for Britain.’

Michael Gove told The Jewish Chronicle: ‘I think it’s absolutely vital that people from every background stand with the Jewish community at this time.

‘There’s been an unprecedented level of hatred and prejudice directed towards the Jewish community, both on our streets and online. And we need to send a clear message that we’re against prejudice and against hate and in favour of inclusivity and tolerance.

‘And it’s particularly important that we do so because history tells us that the health and safety of the Jewish community is invariably aligned to how strong, free and warm a society is.’

The march came as the charity Community Security Trust recorded 76 violent anti-Jewish assaults in the first six months of 2025, three of which were categorised as extreme violence.

The march came after President Donald Trump issued what he called his ‘last warning’ to Hamas, urging the Palestinian militant group to accept a deal to release hostages from Gaza.

‘The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well,’ Trump said in a post his Truth Social platform.

‘I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!’

Almost 900 demonstrators were arrested at a central London rally protesting against the banning of Palestine Action as a terror group on Saturday.

An estimated 1,500 took part in the protest in Parliament Square, Westminster, on Saturday and the force condemned the ‘intolerable’ abuse it claims its officers suffered.

But organisers, campaign group Defend Our Juries (DOJ), insisted the rally was ‘the picture of peaceful protest’, with attendees sitting and holding signs, and called on new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to drop the ‘unenforceable’ ban.

The daughter of a Holocaust survivor Carolyn Gelenter was among more than 900 people detained.

She told Metro: ‘This is really a draconian law. As a Jew, and lots of Jews ask themselves this question, I ask myself what would I have done if I was living in Nazi Germany.

‘I have an answer now. I have something going on in this world today and it is fascism and I feel compelled to do something.’