By Michael Holden and Dylan Martinez
More than 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central London on Saturday, and police made more than 80 arrests as they tried to prevent clashes between protesters and groups opposed to the rally.
The pro-Palestinian march attracted counter-protesters from far-right groups on Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War I, which involves commemorations of British war dead.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was disrespectful to hold the rally on Armistice Day, and ministers had called for the march to be cancelled, the largest yet in a series to show support for the Palestinians and call for a halt. the fire in the Gaza Strip.
Police said there were “a significant number” of counter-protesters present in central London, and skirmishes broke out between them and security forces near the Cenotaph war memorial, near the Houses of Parliament and in Westminster.
Some of the right-wing protesters threw bottles at officers and police vehicles sped through the city to respond to reports of tensions in the streets.
London’s Metropolitan Police later said it had made 82 arrests of counter-protesters in a measure designed to keep the peace, as far-right groups had tried to approach the pro-Palestinian demonstration. Another 10 arrests were made for other crimes.
“We will continue to take action to prevent the disorder that would likely occur if that were to happen,” police said in a statement on social media.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf blamed Home Secretary Suella Braverman for emboldening the far right after she accused the police earlier in the week of favoring the “pro-Palestinian mobs.”
“The scenes of disorder we witnessed from the far right at the Cenotaph are a direct result of the Home Secretary’s words,” Khan said on social media.
GREAT PARTICIPATION
Police said the pro-Palestinian demonstration had a “very large” turnout and that there had been no incidents related to it so far. They said they would not allow the two groups to meet.
“We will use all powers and tactics at our disposal to prevent that from happening,” police said.
As they gathered at the starting point, pro-Palestinian protesters could be heard shouting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a cry many Jews consider anti-Semitic and a call for the eradication of Israel.
Others carried signs reading “Free Palestine,” “Stop the massacre” and “Stop bombing Gaza” as they walked along the route of the march, which was due to end at the U.S. embassy.
Since the Hamas assault on southern Israel on October 7, there has been strong support and sympathy for Israel from Western governments, including the British, and from many citizens. But the Israeli military response has also sparked anger, with weekly protests in London demanding a ceasefire.
In Paris, several thousand protesters, including some left-wing lawmakers, marched with pro-Palestinian banners and flags on Saturday afternoon to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. (Reporting by Michael Holden, Hannah McKay, Hollie Adams, Ben Makori, Will Russell, Natalie Thomas, Alishia Abodunde, Yann Tessier and Dylan Martinez, Writing by Sarah Young, Edited in Spanish by Manuel Farías)
Source: Ambito
