Protesters march in central London on Saturday, calling for a cease-fire within the battle between Israel and Hamas.
Henry Nicholls/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
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Henry Nicholls/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Protesters march in central London on Saturday, calling for a cease-fire within the battle between Israel and Hamas.
Henry Nicholls/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
LONDON — Lots of of 1000’s of individuals marched in London on Saturday calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, in what was the most important pro-Palestinian rally within the metropolis for the reason that Israel-Hamas battle started a month in the past.
London’s Metropolitan Police put the variety of protesters at over 300,000, whereas organizers say it may even have been one of many largest protests in British political historical past, suggesting 800,000 individuals took half within the march.
Saturday’s rally got here amid a rising political row over British House Secretary Suella Braverman’s suggestion that London’s police had been biased of their dealing with of pro-Palestinian protests and her labeling of the protests as ”hate marches.”
Protesters marched overwhelmingly peacefully via the town, assembly at London’s Hyde Park and strolling to the U.S. Embassy. The Met police reported ”no points” with the protest itself, saying that it had caught to the prescribed route. The route for Saturday’s march, which coincided with Armistice Day, was deliberately drawn up by protest organizers to keep away from London’s conflict memorials such because the Cenotaph, the place two minutes of silence have been held to commemorate the U.Okay. conflict lifeless an hour earlier than the march started.
London’s police did, nevertheless, report incidents of far-right violence within the metropolis, with about 100 counterprotesters arrested.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan blamed the far-right violence on the house secretary’s language. Scotland’s chief Humza Yousaf known as for the house secretary to resign, saying the far-right had been ”emboldened” by her.
The Met Police stated Saturday night that they’d detained a breakaway group of 150 pro-Palestinian protesters, someday after the primary demonstration had ended.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated Saturday night that he condemned ”the violent scenes we’ve got seen from far-right teams and Hamas sympathizers. All criminality have to be met with the complete and swift pressure of the legislation.”
Protesters present placards throughout a pro-Palestinian protest in London on Saturday.
Alberto Pezzali/AP
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Alberto Pezzali/AP
Protesters present placards throughout a pro-Palestinian protest in London on Saturday.
Alberto Pezzali/AP
The professional-Palestinian march drew a various crowd, with many households and youngsters participating.
Amanda Cattle, 60, instructed NPR she thought it was all of the extra necessary to march for a cease-fire on Armistice Day. ”My grandfather was a soldier via the entire of the First World Warfare. I at all times put on a poppy and I at all times commemorate, however what I actually assume we must be commemorating is looking for peace and making an attempt to cease the genocide of the Palestinians which the Israeli authorities is perpetrating,” she stated. ”It is horrific.”
Protesters made their method from throughout the nation for the march.
Based on studies within the British media, the Cease the Warfare Coalition, one of many organizers of Saturday’s occasion, stated coach corporations throughout the nation reported that each one their automobiles have been totally booked with ready lists in some areas.
Dorothy Moss, 71, traveled from Leeds, within the north of England, to participate.
”My father was a Jewish refugee, my nice uncle was killed in Auschwitz,” she instructed NPR.
”What is occurring in Israel towards the Palestinians is presently at a stage of genocide. Individuals of Jewish background ought to know what genocide is,” she stated. ”We have had expertise in our households. It must cease, now.”
Israel contends that it’s focusing on Hamas, not the Palestinian individuals. Israel’s assaults on Gaza have killed greater than 11,000 individuals, in response to Gaza well being officers. It comes after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 individuals.
Yasmin Hussein has made the two-hour journey from Bedfordshire, within the east of England, each weekend to attend the pro-Palestinian marches in London. ”That is the least we will do for the Palestinian individuals,” she instructed NPR.
Hussein was tearful as she defined why she was there. ”I am right here for the individuals of Palestine, for the kids of Palestine, for the harmless individuals of Palestine. They’re human beings, they haven’t requested for this,” she stated. ”Simply cease, please.”