London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in London for a Gaza ceasefire, facing counter-protests from pro-Israel groups and a strict police presence. The police warned against supporting banned militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
London witnessed a massive rally of pro-Palestinian activists on Saturday, who reiterated their calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The march was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which saw protesters walk from Park Lane to the vicinity of Parliament, pleading for urgent action to end violence in Gaza.
Starting from Park Lane, protesters carried Palestinian and Lebanese flags while holding signs condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Activists in the protest also demanded the Israeli PM’s arrest after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him.
The demonstrators ended their march in Whitehall, outside the residence of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street.
The protest took place with a heavy police presence, with a counter-protest by the pro-Israel Stop the Hate group along the route, taking place on one of the busiest shopping days in London before Christmas.
Palestinian activists, leading NGOs in Gaza, and British MPs addressed the protesters, urging Britain to impose sanctions on Israel.
While the Israel supporters urged the marchers to stop supporting terror.
At the rally, Kim Johnson, Labour MP, criticized the UK government’s role and urged a change in foreign policy, while Jeremy Corbyn, Independent MP, condemned Israel’s apartheid policies and the lack of an international community to hold Israel accountable.
Palestinian doctor Ahmed Mokhallalati was also among the speakers, who shared firsthand experiences from Gaza and requested the British government to take action and end the ongoing bloodshed.
Mokhallalati stated while speaking to protesters, “As history has shown, acts of genocide, ethnic cleansing and brutal aggression do not sustain an occupation. On the contrary, the more force is used, the less effective it becomes, ultimately accelerating the collapse of such oppressive regimes.”
Faris Amer, speaking for the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), criticized the UK government for its hypocrisy as global efforts to hold Israeli officials accountable continue to grow.
Before the protest, the London Metropolitan Police posted X, reminding protesters that backing Hamas and Hezbollah is a criminal offence, as they are banned terrorist groups under UK law.
The Met police said they would ensure a “highly visible” presence at the rally and would manage counter-protesters from Stop the Hate, a pro-Israeli group that has accused the Palestine protest of “supporting terror.”
As reported by the BBC, Hamas’s brutal attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, claimed the lives of 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages.
Israel began a military operation in Gaza to eliminate Hamas.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 44,000 people have died and more than 104,000 have been injured since then.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign reports that the London march marked the 22nd since the war started.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, all accused of crimes against humanity for their involvement in the Gaza war.
In response, Downing Street has confirmed that Britain would respect its legal obligation regarding the arrest warrant.