KEY INSIGHTS
The war in Gaza precipitated a rise in activism and ethnic tensions across the United Kingdom. The British government aims to tame rising antisemitism and Islamophobia through rebalancing its geopolitical stance, designating Palestine Action as a terrorist group, and introducing harsher protest controls – however, these measures risk inflaming current tensions and creating new opposition to the government over perceived attacks on freedom of expression.
SITUATIONAL OVERVIEW: OCTOBER 2023 – OCTOBER 2025
October 7, 2023: Hamas conducts a terror attack on Israel, taking hundreds of hostages. Israel begins its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
July 29, 2024: A mass stabbing in Southport motivates Islamophobic riots across the United Kingdom; over 360 police officers are injured.
June 20, 2025: Palestine Action (PA) activists break into RAF Brize Norton and cause £7 million in damages to military aircraft.
July 5, 2025: Parliament votes to designate PA as a terrorist group.
July – October 2025: Protests across the United Kingdom in support of PA lead to over 2,000 arrests on terror charges.
October 2, 2025: A terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester leaves two Jewish worshippers dead and multiple injured.
October 5, 2025: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announces new powers for police to stop repeat protests.
ANALYSIS
Israel’s military activity in Gaza has served as a catalyst for preexisting social tensions in the United Kingdom, converting them into more frequent threats towards Muslim and Jewish communities. In 2024, over 6,000 cases of Islamophobia were reported to independent monitors, up 43 percent from the previous year. A July 2025 report found anti-Jewish discrimination spiked since October 7, 2023.
In the approach to the second anniversary of start of the war in Gaza, anti-Muslim and antisemitic attitudes heightened and were manifested in attacks against places of worship. On October 2, a British-Syrian man attacked a synagogue in Manchester with knives and an unviable explosive belt. Three days later, a mosque in Peacehaven, Sussex was targeted by two individuals who sprayed accelerant at the entrance.
The Labour government claimed PA’s actions amounted to terrorism, and parliament voted to designate PA as a terrorist organization in July. This move motivated a series of demonstrations supporting PA throughout July to October, with pro-Palestinian activists joined by new protesters concerned about restrictions on freedom of expression and political association. To date, over 2,000 individuals have been arrested at these events under terrorism charges.
OUTLOOK
We assess the British government’s attempts to quell antisemitism and Islamophobia are unlikely to succeed in the short term and may generate greater political instability. A resolution to the war in Gaza may provide a brief respite for the British Jewish community, though the reputational damage to Israel and the continued suffering of Palestinian civilians is likely to result in persistent antisemitic attitudes in the long term. Islamophobia is also likely to remain a persistent issue.
SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Strengthen Physical Security: Conduct regular risk assessments and improve physical security measures at facilities, including CCTV, controlled access, and clear emergency procedures.
- Review Cybersecurity Measures: Improve monitoring for online hate, doxxing, or impersonation attempts.
- Promote Community Resilience: Engage in interfaith cooperation and neighborhood-based security or awareness initiatives.
- Prepare for Protests and Unrest: Develop communication plans, staff guidance, and de-escalation training for front-facing personnel.
Authored by: Robert Hodgkison
