Tens of thousands of people turned out on central London’s streets Saturday for a pro Palestinian march calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.
During the National March for Palestine in central London, the majority of protestors remained peaceful. However, 18 individuals were arrested, with at least five detained on suspicion of inciting racial hatred. The demonstration, part of a series of protests in European cities since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, occurred on the second day of a four-day ceasefire. The Metropolitan Police arrested a person for carrying a placard with Nazi symbols, and four others were detained for distributing literature featuring a swastika inside a Star of David.
Pro-Palestinian rallies in the UK have sparked debates on the freedom of protest and police powers. Earlier, former interior minister Suella Braverman faced criticism for labeling pro-Palestinian protesters as “hate marchers” and was subsequently sacked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The police distributed leaflets during the march to clarify what actions would be considered criminal offenses, addressing concerns over antisemitic displays at the protests. Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to racism, incitement, and support for banned organizations. a pro Palestinian march
In London, outside the Egyptian Embassy, a demonstration organized by Hizb-ut-Tahrir led to the arrest of two women holding “offensive” placards for a racially aggravated public order offense. In Paris, a march for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women drew both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli activists. In Vienna, a “Peace for Palestine” rally amid the first snow called for Austrian support for a Gaza ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade.