Cliff Notes
- Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in London to mark two years since the Gaza war, with police enforcing measures to prevent clashes with a rival counter-demonstration.
- Protest slogans included contentious phrases, and despite a ceasefire in Gaza, participants expressed distrust regarding its longevity and the broad political plans in place.
- Tensions escalated with minor skirmishes reported, leading to some arrests as the protest underscored deep divisions within the community amidst ongoing conflicts in the region.
Police use Public Order Act to keep rival protesters apart at London demonstration marking two years since Gaza war began | UK News
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Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marked two years since the start of the Gaza war – with police in London forced to take measures to stop clashes with a Stop The Hate counter demo.
It came a day after a ceasefire began in Gaza and as people began returning to the rubble of their devastated homes and communities.
The demonstration began on Victoria Embankment and ended with a rally in Whitehall.
Gaza latest: Hamas poses potential challenge to peace plan
Signs being handed out featured slogans such as “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” (seen by some as calling for the eradication of Israel) and “it’s not a crime to act against genocide”.
Police said conditions to “prevent serious disruption” had been imposed under the Public Order Act to specify where people could march and gather.
Images from the scene showed a few protesters from pro-Israel group Our Fight facing off with pro-Palestinian activists.
Officers said a “small group” of counter-protesters had breached conditions by demonstrating at the form-up area of the pro-Palestine march, leading to a “scuffle between several individuals”.
Police said they were separated and a “small number of arrests” made.
Nearly 500 people were arrested at last week’s protest in the capital, most of them on suspicion of supporting the banned terror organisation Palestine Action.
It came despite calls for restraint following the deadly terror attack on a Manchester synagogue by a man who pledged allegiance to Islamic State.
Today’s protest was the 32nd since the war began in October 2023 – something Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said had caused “considerable fear” for the Jewish community.
Plans for greater powers to restrict repeat demonstrations have recently been unveiled by the government.
However, Ben Jamal, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, insisted the group won’t stop organising the marches.
“Israel is capable of breaking the ceasefire at any time, as it has done on every previous occasion,” he said.
“And we know this ceasefire based on Trump’s plan does nothing to address the root causes of Israeli occupation and colonisation of Palestine, and its system of apartheid against Palestinians.
“It also does nothing to hold those responsible for genocide to account.”
Israel has repeatedly denied claims of genocide.
The war started when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 and taking 251 hostages.
The remaining 20 still alive are set to be released on Monday, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, after Israel pulled its troops back.
However, it is only the first part of Donald Trump’s 20-point plan and issues such as the disarming of Hamas and how Gaza will be run are likely to be very difficult to resolve.
