Thousands of protesters marched through central London on Saturday, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon as the conflict in the Palestinian territory nears its one-year mark.
Pro-Palestinian supporters from across the UK gathered for the 20th “National March for Palestine,” starting from Russell Square and culminating at Downing Street. They called for an end to the violence, which has resulted in nearly 42,000 deaths in Gaza.
Familiar chants filled the air, including “ceasefire now,” “stop bombing hospitals, stop bombing civilians,” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” alongside new calls of “hands off Lebanon.”
The rally coincided with the upcoming anniversary of the October 7 attack in Israel by Hamas fighters, which claimed 1,205 lives, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. In response, Israel’s military bombardment has led to at least 41,825 deaths in Gaza, with most casualties being women and children, as reported by the territory’s health ministry and verified by the United Nations.
Many protesters carried signs reading, “Starmer has blood on his hands.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas, along with suspending some arms licenses to Israel. However, many attendees viewed this stance as insufficient.
The Metropolitan Police implemented a significant policing operation in anticipation of the protests and memorial events. While the rally remained largely peaceful, two individuals were arrested for assaulting an emergency worker, and three others were taken into custody amid rising tensions between the main march and a counter-protest. Although exact figures for the demonstration were unclear, the Met noted that attendance appeared higher than at previous protests.
Another rally took place simultaneously in Dublin, Ireland. A memorial for the October 7 attack is scheduled to be held in London on Sunday.