Thousands attend pro-Palestinian rally in London
EPA
Several thousand Pro-Palestinian supporters have taken part in a demonstration in central London.
The rally – the latest in a series of UK protests organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) since the conflict in Gaza began – comes as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The Metropolitan Police said eight people had been arrested, including a man on suspicion of holding a placard suggesting support for banned organisations and four people on suspicion of public order offences.
The static rally in Whitehall took place after police blocked plans by organisers to hold a march from Portland Place, near the headquarters of the BBC.
Police prevented demonstrators gathering outside Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue and a risk there could be “serious disruption” as congregants attend services on the Jewish holy day.
A group of protesters later attempted to march from the rally but were stopped by police a short distance away at Trafalgar Square.
Police held a group back and minor scuffles broke out. The square was later blocked off by police vans and officers, preventing them from leaving.
Demonstrators were then told to disperse and leave the area. “Anyone remaining in breach of the conditions, or inciting further breaches, [would] be arrested.” said the force in a post on X.
However, 20 to 30 people remained in Trafalgar Square and have been or are in the process of being arrested.
A smaller counter protest involving pro-Israel supporters also took place near Whitehall while other pro-Palestinian protesters held demonstrations in Belfast and Londonderry.
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A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was shameful that the Met had refused to act until now when it appears that the war might be ending
Posting on X ahead of the rally, the Met said any protesters entering a designated area near the BBC would “be committing a criminal offence and may face arrest”.
The force later said that three people had been arrested on suspicion of breaching the conditions put in place.
At the Whitehall protests, demonstrators could be seen holding signs reading: “Gaza. Stop the massacre” and “Stop arming Israel”.
Meanwhile, one banner said: “Labour, Tories, BBC. You show Russia’s crimes but hide Israel’s. Why?”
The PSC said they welcome the ceasefire agreement but have concerns over whether it will hold and are keeping the possibility of holding further marches under review.
PA Media
A group of protesters, including former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader John McDonnell, later attempted to march from the rally
PA Media
Police prevented demonstrators gathering outside Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue
The PSC described the Met’s conditions as “repressive” and called for the force to lift them.
In a statement, Campaign Against Antisemitism said the marches posed a “threat” to synagogues.
A spokesperson said: “It is shameful that the Met has refused to act on that threat all this time”, adding police should “finally limit these marches to static protests, as we have been urging for over a year”.
The conflict in Gaza started when hundreds of Hamas fighters stormed across Israel’s southern border on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages back to Gaza.
More than 46,700 people – the majority of them civilians – have been killed in Israel’s military response, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
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