Thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Saturday for a pro-Palestine demonstration, with organisers estimating over 180,000 people in Hyde Park. The march, one of the largest in British history, saw crowds block traffic near Victoria Embankment under the watch of dozens of police officers before heading to Hyde Park.
Speeches were delivered by Labour MPs, anti-war campaigners, and trade union members. Former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell addressed the crowd, stating: 'Yes, a ceasefire has been negotiated and we welcome a ceasefire. But let’s be clear, there will be no ceasefire in our campaign to boycott, disinvest and sanction the Israeli apartheid state.'
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which organised the event, called on the UK government to impose sanctions on Israel. In a Facebook statement, they said: 'The UK government must take immediate action and stop allowing Israel to act with impunity.' Protesters held banners reading 'Free Palestine' and 'stop the war', and chants of 'Boris Johnson, shame on you' were heard near Downing Street.
Protester Muktha Ali, 32, from Harrow, said: 'I’m here because this is now urgent, the Israeli occupation needs to end now.' Another attendee, Jake, added: 'I stand in solidarity with Palestinians, and so should everyone. It’s great to see so many people come out in their thousands.'
Similar protests took place in Bristol, Peterborough, Nottingham, and Manchester, as well as internationally in Paris and Dublin. The demonstration proceeded despite a ceasefire announced on Friday, ending 11 days of conflict that killed over 230 people in Gaza and 12 in Israel.
