Pro-Palestine protesters rally in rain in central London

Pro-Palestine protesters rally in rain in central London
credit: news.sky

London (Parliament News) – Hundreds of pro-Palestine protestors braved the rain in central London, calling on the recently elected Labour government to take step over the situation in Gaza.

Photos show proponents of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) gathering at Russel Square before venturing on their march to Portcullis House. Huge demonstrators, many carrying Palestinian banners and placards calling for solidarity, assembled on a sodden street. The Met Police deployed 700 officers across the capital in expectation of the rally and other potential protests, including a rumoured Just Stop Oil interruption.

A scheduled pro-Israel counter-protest was reportedly withdrawn and did not materialise.

Hundreds of demonstrators enveloped Downing Street and were cautioned to disperse or face arrest. One person had already been charged, police said in an update.

Why Did Hundreds Rally for Gaza in Central London?

PSC director Ben Jamal described the purpose of the march: “We’re here to show the new government that we’re not going away and to require they take decisive action to end UK complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza and defend Palestinian rights.”

Mr Jamal slammed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s previous perspective on the Gaza conflict, saying that he had ordered Labour MPs not to vote for a ceasefire. The PSC director highlighted the need to “ramp up” pressure on the new Labour administration. “We’re not going away,” Mr Jamal said. “You need to make sure the UK ceases to be complicit in the oppression of the Palestinian people.”

Sir Keir has contained in the Labour manifesto that a Palestinian state would be backed.

“It’s very important we have a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel,” he declared last month.

What Role Did Jeremy Corbyn Play in the London Protest?

Islington North MP and ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is stated to have joined the movement. Mr Corbyn, now an independent MP, stated: “Palestine was on the ballot in this election – and I promise to stay true to my word to stand up for the Palestinian people.

“We said it to the Tories, and now we will say it to Labour: a government that sells arms to Israel is a government that is complicit in crimes against humanity. A change in government doesn’t change the fact that the people of Gaza are still being murdered in their sleep. And it doesn’t change the fact that there is only one path to a just and lasting peace: an end to the occupation of Palestine.”

How Did Met Police Prepare for the Pro-Palestine March?

The Met stated the counter-protest was set to be stationary and in the Strand area. Videographer Matt Capon tweeted that he had been to the location of the pro-Israel march, a group recognised by the Met as ‘Enough is Enough’, but stated he had seen no sign of it. He added that the counter-protest had been withdrawn “five hours ago”. It is supposed to be a different campaign to the left-wing ‘Enough is Enough’ pressure group funded by Labour’s Zarah Sultana and RMT union leader Mick Lynch.

Mr Capon noted: “I’m walking back down Southampton Row towards the Strand towards Holborn and more people are arriving. There’s no sign of the pro-Israel counter-protest.” 

Daniele Naddei

Daniele Naddei is a journalist at Parliament News covering European affairs, was born in Naples on April 8, 1991. He also serves as the Director of the CentroSud24 newspaper. During the period from 2010 to 2013, Naddei completed an internship at the esteemed local radio station Radio Club 91. Subsequently, he became the author of a weekly magazine published by the Italian Volleyball Federation of Campania (FIPAV Campania), which led to his registration in the professional order of Journalists of Campania in early 2014, listed under publicists. From 2013 to 2018, he worked as a freelance photojournalist and cameraman for external services for Rai and various local entities, including TeleCapri, CapriEvent, and TLA. Additionally, between 2014 and 2017, Naddei collaborated full-time with various newspapers in Campania, both in print and online. During this period, he also resumed his role as Editor-in-Chief at Radio Club 91.
Naddei is actively involved as a press officer for several companies and is responsible for editing cultural and social events in the city through his association with the Medea Fattoria Sociale. This experience continued until 2021. Throughout these years, he hosted or collaborated on football sports programs for various local broadcasters, including TLA, TvLuna, TeleCapri, Radio Stonata, Radio Amore, and Radio Antenna Uno.
From 2016 to 2018, Naddei was employed as an editor at newspapers of national interest within the Il24.it circuit, including Internazionale24, Salute24, and OggiScuola. Since 2019, Naddei has been one of the creators of the Rabona television program "Calcio è Passione," which has been broadcast on TeleCapri Sport since 2023.