London, 12 October (H.S.):Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the heart of London on Saturday in a major pro-Palestinian march, just one day after a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in Gaza. The peaceful procession, organized by the Palestine Coalition and supported by groups like Palestine Solidarity Campaign, began at Victoria Embankment and flowed across Westminster Bridge, culminating in a rally on Whitehall.
A sea of Palestinian flags and banners calling for justice and freedom filled iconic central London vistas, while a smaller counter-protest—some displaying Israeli flags and calling for the return of hostages—stood nearby. Police made 14 arrests during the event for offences such as affray, breaching public order conditions, and supporting proscribed groups. Most incidents occurred when a small group of counter-protesters attempted to confront the marchers, leading to brief scuffles quickly diffused by officers.
Rally speakers hailed the ceasefire as an important but fragile step, warning that key issues like Gaza's governance and Israeli withdrawal remain unresolved. We will never stop standing with Palestine, said Ben Jamal, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, describing the current truce as precarious with root causes still unaddressed.
The demonstration came amid renewed scrutiny from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has proposed stricter protest laws and called for extra sensitivity from demonstrators following a deadly synagogue attack in Manchester last week. Despite these pleas, pro-Palestinian demonstrations went ahead throughout the week, leading to nearly 500 arrests in central London, predominantly for supporting banned organizations.
Saturday’s event unfolded against the backdrop of an 18-month-long Gaza conflict triggered by the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in October 2023, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, the Hamas-run health ministry reports over 67,000 Palestinian deaths, including more than 18,000 children, underscoring the continued urgency behind London’s outpouring of solidarity.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
