- London rally expresses solidarity with Palestine through flares, chants, and peaceful demonstrations.
- Over 1,000 police officers deployed; similar rallies held in Manchester and Edinburgh; community demonstrates concern at BBC headquarters.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators flooded the streets of London on Saturday afternoon.
Tens of thousands marched in solidarity with the trapped Palestinians in Gaza as the Israeli army initiated a ground assault. Notably, more than 2,200 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave.
Israel have deployed a barrage of blanket bombs onto defenceless Gazans who have been deprived of water, food and electricity. Buildings have been razed and several hospitals have been hit, paramedics, journalists, and Palestinians babies have been brutally killed.
Pictured: In a grand demonstration of solidarity with Palestine, thousands converge to peacefully voice their opposition to the Israeli war crimes.
On Friday, over a million Gazans in the northern region of the enclave were ordered to evacuate the what the United Nations said would have “devastating humanitarian consequences”.
The protest began around the BBC building at Portland Place at midday. The crowds sprawled out to Oxford Street. Fireworks of Green, red and black were let off into the crowd. Supporters scattered from Whitehall.
Pictured: Protesters march resolutely through the heart of London.
Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the organiser of the event, Ben Jamal believed 100,000 people had been in attendance of the march today.
Outside Downing Street, a minute’s silence was observed outside for those who were killed. A series of speeches by activists including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestine ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot.
Pictured: Protesters proudly wave their flags high
Many of the speakers expressed their frustrations with the government’s response. Furthermore, the lack of accountability for Israeli war crimes.
Mr Jamal said that PM Rishi Sunak was “giving the green light to war crimes”, referring to the government’s decision to send military vessels and surveillance aircrafts to assist the Israeli efforts.
He also said that home secretary Suella Braverman was assisting with the “dehumanisation of Palestinians” by equating the Palestinian flag with the evil.
Pictured: Jeremy Corbyn takes the stage, delivering an impassioned address at the protest.
“It is a day of solidarity and it is a day of hope,” Mr Jeremy Corbyn said. In addition, he articulated his anger towards Sir Keir Starmer, who earlier this week said the Israeli government was “within their right to defend herself.”
“Here is the likely next prime minister of the UK, a member of the Labour Party for goodness sake, endorsing a state enacting war crimes against an entire population,” he said. “That is grotesque. What message does that deliver to the world about the UK’s response to international law? What does that say to the Palestinian people about its humanity and how it’s respected.”
The protest consisted of a diverse range of people from all walks of life, backgrounds, religions and creeds. British Palestinians were also present, with friends and family in Gaza. Hassan Kamal, who is from Jerusalem, said he has “no idea” what has happened to his family in Gaza and can no longer get in contact with them.
The chair of the Friends of Al- Aqsa, Ismail Patel, was seen crying at the March and explained how he had lost touch with one of his friends in the Gaza Strip on Friday night, when the first Israeli soldiers stepped into the enclave.
“While I was having one conversation with a friend in Gaza, their phone died,” he said. “I don’t know what’s happened to them anymore. Now it’s becoming more and more difficult to be in touch with people in Gaza.”
Mr Patel’s daughter, stood behind him and looked at the ground as her father began weeping.
The march was incredibly peaceful. Although a shocking incident occurred around Piccadilly Circus where a man brandishing a Union Jack flag punched one of the volunteers. The volunteer said he “got punched in the face out of nowhere”. He had a bloody lip and nose as a result. The crowd responded by chanting: “Shame on you.”
In a letter to senior police officers on Tuesday, Ms Braverman said she would “encourage” the authorities to “consider whether chants such as: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’” as a potential “expression of violent desire to see Israel erased from the world”. Many protestors believe that quite the contrary is occurring in the Middle Eastern region.
However, her words did not prevent protesters from signing the song, nor did it provoke the police to prevent it. As a response to Braverman’s statements, Multiple placards suggested the home secretary was a “racist” in response.
In fact, the famous “From the River to the sea, Palestine will be Free” chant was amplified proudly through a megaphone, on the steps outside the BBC building. It was received warmly with mass applause and support from the crowd.
Today, Pro-Palestine demonstrations were also held in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee.
In Glasgow, unprecedented numbers of attendees joined the congregation. Consequently, Bath Street (close to the Buchanan Street steps) were closed.
The demonstrations we’ve witnessed today highlight a profound divergence in beliefs. It’s abundantly clear that the stance of the UK government on Palestine, marked by a perceived lack of concern, stands in stark contrast to the sentiments held by the British public.
