This weekend has seen thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gather in London to urge an end to Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Rallies are also expected in other UK cities, such as Manchester and Glasgow. Last week, 100,000 people took to the streets in London alone to demand an end to the bombing in Gaza. Police expect similar numbers this weekend. The protests come as Israel expands its strikes in response to an attack on its territory by Hamas three weeks ago.
Crowds began to gather on Saturday afternoon near the Golden Jubilee Bridge with signs reading “Gaza, stop the massacre” and “Free Palestine, end Israeli occupation.” A sound system led people to chant phrases such as “Stop arming Israel. Stop bombing Gaza” and “We are all Palestinian.” They also chanted the slogan saying “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Large crowds are expected around the Embankment, Whitehall, Strand, Westminster, and Waterloo Bridge. Police have warned people to expect large crowds in these areas and have deployed more than 1,000 officers. The home secretary had previously urged police chiefs to consider interpreting the “river to the sea” chant as an “expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world.” Therefore, officers will intervene if protesters use the word “jihad” in chants.
Elsewhere in the UK, thousands attended a pro-Palestinian rally outside Manchester’s Central Library at St Peter’s Square. On Friday, the region’s mayor joined international calls for “a ceasefire by all sides and for the hostages to be released unharmed.” Demonstrations have been taking place around the world to call for fighting to stop and for aid to be allowed into Gaza. Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel on 7 October, which has resulted in the death of more than 7,000 people since the attack
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