Prince Harry urges clarity at protests

Prince Harry has spoken out about what he described as a “deeply troubling” rise in antisemitism in the UK, following a series of violent incidents targeting Jewish communities.

Writing in The New Statesman, the Duke of Sussex referred to recent attacks against Jewish people in Manchester and London, urging those protesting over events in the Middle East to be “clear” about where their anger is directed.

His comments come after the UK terror threat level was raised to “severe” for the first time in five years. One recent incident involved the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, which has intensified debate around pro-Palestine demonstrations.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned some behaviour seen at the protests, describing certain actions as “extreme racism”. He also said police should prosecute anyone chanting “globalise the intifada”.

The term “intifada”, meaning “uprising” in Arabic, refers to two Palestinian uprisings against Israel during the late 1980s and early 2000s, conflicts that resulted in thousands of deaths.

Prince Harry acknowledged the “deep and justified alarm” over the humanitarian impact of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, both of which have faced Israeli military bombardment. However, he warned that legitimate criticism of government actions must not become hostility toward Jewish communities.

“Nothing, whether criticism of a government or the reality of violence and destruction, can ever justify hostility toward an entire people or faith,” he wrote.

At the same time, Harry defended the importance of peaceful protest and accountability, saying criticism is valid “when states act without accountability and in ways that raise serious questions under international humanitarian law”.

The Duke has previously faced criticism over issues related to antisemitism. In 2005, he apologised after attending a costume party wearing a Nazi-style Afrika Korps uniform, an incident that drew widespread condemnation from political leaders and international figures.