LONDON: Amidst heightened tensions, over 300,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators flooded the streets of central London on Saturday, making it the largest in a series of marches advocating for Palestinian rights and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The event took place on Armistice Day, the solemn anniversary of the end of World War One, where Britain traditionally commemorates its war dead. However, this year’s demonstration faced opposition, leading to clashes and arrests.
Skirmishes erupted between the police and far-right groups opposing the march, resulting in the arrests of more than 120 individuals. The demonstration’s timing on Armistice Day added a layer of controversy, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the violence, specifically highlighting the presence of “Hamas sympathizers” among the pro-Palestinian rally.
Tensions escalated before the march, fueled by Interior Minister Suella Braverman labeling these events as “hate marches” led by “mobs.” The Metropolitan Police in London rejected ministerial requests to block the rally, citing a lack of indications for serious violence, leading to strained relations with the government.
In a late-night statement, the police reported 126 arrests, primarily of right-wing protesters, with instances of extreme violence toward law enforcement. Small groups broke away from the main march, engaging in physical confrontations and firing fireworks at officers, leading to additional arrests. Investigations into hate crime and support for proscribed organization offenses are ongoing.
Despite the controversies, the pro-Palestinian rally itself did not witness significant physical violence. Participants, estimated by the police at over 300,000 and by organizers at 800,000, voiced their support for Palestine, demanding a ceasefire and condemning Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” resonated through the crowd, while banners conveyed messages like “Free Palestine,” “Stop the Massacre,” and “Stop Bombing Gaza.”
The global impact of the Israeli-Hamas conflict was evident, with similar demonstrations taking place in Brussels, where approximately 21,000 people participated, and Paris, where around 16,000 protesters, including left-wing lawmakers, called for a ceasefire. The international community remains divided in its response to the conflict, with governments expressing support for Israel’s actions and citizens advocating for Palestinian rights.
