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The Metropolitan Police have urged the organisers of a planned pro-Palestinian student march, set for the third anniversary of the 7 October attacks on Israel, to consider relocating the event. Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman revealed that the police have so far been unable to identify who is behind the group calling itself the University of London Coalition, which is spearheading the march. Although the protest does not reach the legal criteria that would allow the police to seek a ban from the home secretary, many Londoners are expected to observe the day with vigils in mourning for the victims.
According to Harman, approximately 300 students are anticipated to participate in the march through central London. The route is planned to start from King’s College London on the Strand and conclude at University College London in Holborn. The organisers are demanding an end to what they describe as a “genocide in Gaza.” However, the protest’s timing and route have prompted serious concerns, especially regarding the potential impact on Jewish students and staff. Harman urged those considering attending to think carefully about the distress the march could cause on such a sensitive day and to consider protesting at a later time instead. The police have also reached out to four London universities, requesting that they actively support their students and staff to ensure no one feels unsafe or targeted, while emphasizing the importance of balancing freedom of expression and peaceful protest with rising antisemitic incidents reported by the Community Security Trust.
In terms of legal boundaries, a march can only be banned if it is likely to cause serious public disorder and if restricting it would prevent that disorder. Harman stated that this threshold has not been met in this case, meaning the police will not request a ban. Moreover, while static demonstrations cannot be banned outright, the police can impose conditions on them. Should the march take place, the police intend to use their full powers to enforce suitable conditions, including controlling the route and timing, and have warned that anyone violating these conditions will face arrest. The force plans a stringent response to hate crimes throughout the event. Despite efforts to identify the organisers through both formal and informal methods, police have not succeeded, and Harman acknowledged that they will need to manage the march regardless.
The background to the protest relates to the tragic events of 7 October 2023, when Hamas fighters killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostage. The attack led to a significant Israeli military response in Gaza, resulting in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths. In June 2024, a UN commission of inquiry determined that Israeli actions in Gaza constituted genocide, a conclusion supported by the International Association of Genocide Scholars later in the year. Despite a ceasefire, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that more than 900 people have died in Israeli attacks this year. The upcoming week also includes other events — a large pro-Palestinian protest expected to draw 10,000 attendees on 10 October, alongside a counter-demonstration, and a march on 4 October marking the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, with around 5,000 people anticipated. Police officials have not forecast significant disorder but will deploy officers to manage any tensions that arise. Harman described this period as a complex policing challenge, noting recent arrests related to conflict during electoral canvassing and assuring that police interventions are focused solely on preventing crime, not on political bias. In total, the Metropolitan Police anticipate mobilizing over 600 officers to cover the various protests and events, acknowledging the financial costs and the impact on routine policing activities
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