Thousands of protesters march through central London to mark two years of war in Gaza
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in central London for a march to mark the second year of the war in Gaza.
While keffiyeh was being sold at the stalls, people in front of the Embankment station were handing out banners saying “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea”, “acting against genocide is not a crime” and “Starmer has blood on his hands, free Palestine”.
The demonstration took place as tens of thousands of Palestinians began returning to their homes in Gaza after Israeli forces withdrew after a US-brokered ceasefire took effect on Friday.
A counter protest organized by Stop The Hate is also taking place at the junction of Aldwych and The Strand.
Police removed scores of people from pro-Palestinian protesters holding signs reading “We stand with Jews in Britain”.
As they were taken away shortly before 12.45am, chants of “shame” and “free Palestine” rose from the pro-Palestinian crowd gathered at Victoria Embankment.
The cheering crowd was led by a woman on a mobility scooter carrying a banner that read: “Palestine. Freedom peace” with a mannequin wearing a hood on the back of the scooter.
Behind him, men and women in Palestine Solidarity Campaign high-visor jackets were walking, holding hands.
One of them was wearing a white T-shirt and a skirt covered in red paint that read: “No more bloodshed. Free Palestine. Your taxes help bomb innocent civilians in Gaza.”
Your party’s co-founder, Jeremy Corbyn, also marched in front of the crowd on Westminster Bridge and helped carry a large banner that read “national march. Free Palestine”.
The woman on the megaphone remained silent as she chanted “from rivers to the sea”, but was seen chanting “Palestine will be free” after shouting “You will see Netanyahu”.
Scotland Yard said it had imposed conditions on both demonstrations under the Public Order Act to “prevent serious disruption” and designated the march route as well as specific areas where protesters could gather.
The pro-Palestinian protest will be the 32nd national demonstration in support of Palestine since October 2023, according to organizer Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), and will see protesters march along the Embankment ahead of a rally in Whitehall.
Last weekend the Government announced police would be given greater powers to restrict protests, allowing them to take into account the “cumulative impact” of repeated demonstrations.
Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood claimed repeated large-scale protests had caused “significant fear” for the Jewish community.
The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the plans but “at this time the law has not changed”.
The government has also said it may crack down on some slogans used in pro-Palestinian protests.
Some consider the slogan “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” to be antisemitic and believe that this slogan requires the destruction of Israel.
Defenders of the song claim that it calls for an end to the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.
Nearly 500 people were arrested at last week’s protest, mostly on suspicion of supporting the banned terrorist organization Palestine Action.
