Several arrests were made at a pro-Palestine protest in London on Saturday, including a woman and a man carrying placards in support of the proscribed organisation Palestine Action. Police also arrested a number of protesters on suspicion of criminal damage after they climbed onto the Battle of Britain memorial on Victoria Embankment.
Police statement and arrests
The Metropolitan Police posted on X: “The front of the procession has now entered Whitehall where a rally will take place. Several arrests have been made so far including a woman and a man with placards declaring support for proscribed organisation Palestine Action.
“We have also arrested a number of protesters on suspicion of criminal damage after they climbed onto the Battle of Britain memorial on Victoria Embankment.
“We are aware of social media footage of other possible offences being committed at the protest. Officers on the ground are assessing and investigating.”
Rally and casualties
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered in Whitehall for a rally after marching through central London. A two-minute silence was held to reflect on lives lost in the conflict in Gaza since October 7 2023, when Hamas-led militants invaded Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 250 others hostage.
The Palestinian death toll in the past three years surpassed 74,000 last month, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government.
Speakers and counter-protest
Among the speakers at the rally were John McDonnell, the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, and Your Party MP Zarah Sultana. Near New Scotland Yard, a small number of pro-Palestine protesters were seen being taken away by police.
The Metropolitan Police imposed restrictions on the protest and counter-demonstration, including the threat of arrest for anyone who refused to remove a face mask. Officers were seen asking some demonstrators to remove face coverings during the march.
As thousands of protesters marched along Victoria Embankment towards Westminster Bridge, they passed a small group of counter-protesters. Chants of “Terrorist supporters off our streets” from the dozens of demonstrators from Stop The Hate at New Scotland Yard were drowned out by those marching past.
They chanted “In our thousands, in our millions we are all Palestinians” and “Shame on you” in response to the pro-Israel protesters. The groups were kept separate with metal barriers and a row of police officers.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn declared that recent sanctions by the Government on illegal West Bank settlements were a result of “our demonstrations, our marches”. Organisers of the demonstration said the march was still ongoing more than two hours after it began and estimated 250,000 people took part.
