"This march will fuel even more hate and antisemitism. There’s no doubt that given the recent antisemitic attacks this year’s march should be banned.”
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Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (CR) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel (R) in Golders Green on March 23, 2026[Missing Credit]
The word Nakba, Arabic for catastrophe, refers to the displacement of around 750,000 Palestinians after the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and the conflict that followed the invasion of Israel by neighbouring Arab countries shortly afterwards.
At last year’s parade, the JC reported that some demonstrators carried placards that called for the de-proscription of Hamas, called for an “intifada”, and compared the situation in Gaza to the Holocaust.
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson is also planning a separate march on the same day, and the PSC has sought to link his rally to support for Israel, saying: “We march against the far-right in Britain who glorify Israel’s racism and brutality. Our unity and solidarity is stronger than their hatred and division.”
Jewish communal organisations have also called for authorities to use all means available to effectively protect the Jewish community.
In a joint statement following the prime minister’s summit on antisemitism on Tuesday, one of the steps called for by the Jewish Leadership Council and Board of Deputies was to “end incitement at pro-Palestinian protests where antisemitic hate speech is frequently taking place, including full use of public order powers to restrict or ban marches when necessary”.
A specific mention was given to the Nakba Day rally and Robinson’s march: “This should include an urgent assessment of marches planned for 16 May."
A CST spokesperson told the JC: “There will be significant pressures on policing that weekend, and the Jewish community is understandably deeply concerned about the anti‑Israel march taking place, particularly in the current climate.”
“In these circumstances, it is surely right that both marches are restricted to static demonstrations in order to minimise their impact on communities and on London in general.”
In an interview with the JC last week, the prime minister said that Hatzola and Shomrim volunteers raised with him their concerns about the impact that repeated pro-Palestine demonstrations were having and that the government were looking to see what actions could be done to address those concerns.
“We're looking at that to see what more can be done, particularly the chants, some of the banners that are displayed, and the repeated nature of the protests,” Sir Keir Starmer told the JC from Golders Green.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the JC: “There will be a significant police presence in central London on Saturday, May 16 where two large protests are due to take place. It is also the same day as the FA Cup Final at Wembley.
“A protest organised under the banner ‘Unite the West’ will go from Kingsway to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand.
“A protest organised by the Palestine Coalition and Stand Up To Racism, to mark Nakba Day, will go from Exhibition Road to Waterloo Place via Brompton Road, Hyde Park Corner and Picadilly.
“We will be using Public Order Act conditions to prevent serious disruption and serious disorder. These will govern form-up points, the routes to be taken by each march and the area that any post-march assembly can take place in.
“Details of the conditions in place will be communicated in the week leading up to the protest.”
