A pro-Israel rally was held in London’s Trafalgar Square to call for the release of all hostages from Gaza, as it marked 100 days since the October 7 attacks. Thousands of people attended and carried Israeli flags, along with pictures of the 105 people who are believed to be still held. The event coincided with a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv, where Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the crowd remotely.
Herzog told the London gathering: “In the face of those who wish to scare us into silence, you’ve stood up and spoken out with clarity, pride, and passion.” He appreciated the UK’s expressions of support following the October attacks, thanking the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and the King for it. Speakers including Tzipi Hotovely, Israel’s ambassador to the UK, and Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy, also addressed the attendees.
However, Israel was facing mounting pressure over the deaths of civilians in Gaza during the rally. Israeli groups and Hamas crossed into Israel following the 7 October attacks and attacked civilian and military targets. This resulted in the killing of around 1,200 people and the taking of an estimated 240 hostages. A six-day ceasefire at the end of November saw 105 hostages released. Israel believes 105 hostages are still being held in Gaza, while some others are either unaccounted for or known to have died.
The Metropolitan Police had observed a “massive increase” in anti-Semitic incidents in London, following the October attack. Lord Pickles, Conservative peer, stated that peace would return to the Middle East, and Gaza could be rebuilt, but only if hostages were brought home. Security for the event was tight, with long queues and bag searches before entering the area. On Saturday, thousands also marched in Westminster calling for an end to the operation and a ceasefire in Gaza.
South Africa has charged Israel with committing genocide and is currently facing a case at the International Court of Justice. The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported that more than 23,000 people had died in Gaza since Israel launched its campaign. Despite all this, the pro-Israel rally in London gained immense support from the crowd, with some members attending out of fear that the hostages were being forgotten
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