Massive Protests In The UK In Solidarity With Palestinians

More than 100,000 protesters took to the streets of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast, and Cardiff on Saturday to express their support for the rights of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, following a violent response to recent Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

Around 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers were on duty to monitor the events in the capital, as a similar event the previous week saw tens of thousands showing solidarity with Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with more than 4,100 people confirmed killed in Gaza due to a sustained campaign of airstrikes, while over 1,400 Israelis, the majority of whom were civilians, lost their lives during the Hamas incursion.

In London, the protest began peacefully, with large crowds waving Palestinian flags as they marched through central London. By 2 pm, the Met Police reported that more than 100,000 people had joined the march, which passed through Marble Arch on its way to Whitehall.

By 5 pm, police officers had made just one arrest, related to an incident from the previous week's event. Images from the afternoon showed two protestors being detained by police, with officers stationed outside the Israeli Embassy.

Simultaneously, around 1,000 demonstrators gathered in Cardiff, calling on the British and Welsh governments to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and provide full humanitarian aid.

Protests also took place in Salford, Birmingham, Belfast, and Dublin, with many participants waving flags and carrying "Free Palestine" posters.

These protests occurred as the UK's Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, announced that he had spoken with Israeli officials to remind them of their duty to respect international law.

Notably, this was the second consecutive weekend of pro-Palestine protests across the UK. Maggie Morgan, representing the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign Cardiff, emphasized that the marches aimed to show support for the people of Palestine while also conveying the message "not in our name, we're not having this."

In London, the Metropolitan Police reported that officers were present on Kensington High Street, Bayswater Road, and outside the Israeli Embassy, engaging with groups of protesters on both streets.

In Dublin, Zoe Lawlor, chairwoman of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, addressed the crowd, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the illegal siege of Gaza, and the allowance of humanitarian aid.

The protests extended to Northern Ireland, with a march organized by Belfast Stands with Palestine. Hundreds participated in the procession in the city center, which concluded at the BBC Northern Ireland headquarters.

Additionally, the controversial Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir held its own protest outside the Egyptian and Turkish embassies, advocating for Muslim countries to intervene in freeing Palestine. Hizb ut-Tahrir is banned in over 40 countries, and its activities have sparked debate among British political leaders.

Other demonstrations in support of Palestinian civilians took place in the UK, including a small protest outside Windsor Castle. Multiple Palestinian flags were also visible during the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton.

Images from London on Saturday showed a significant police presence around the Israeli embassy, with more than 20 police vans and numerous officers in riot gear patrolling the streets. Barriers were placed in front of the embassy entrance, and riot shields were visible inside the gates.

Protesters expressed various perspectives on the conflict, with some calling for support for Palestine and criticizing Israel, while others expressed sympathy for innocent people affected on both sides. The protests followed a mostly peaceful series of marches across the UK the previous weekend, although isolated incidents had generated controversy.

The conflict has led to a significant loss of life and casualties in the Gaza Strip, as well as a surge in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic offenses in the UK.

The Metropolitan Police anticipated another significant demonstration in central London, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and introduced protest restrictions to maintain order during the event.

In Tel Aviv, people gathered to show support for the families of loved ones who were taken as hostages, emphasizing the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants.