Protesters Rally in London Against Israel with Tensions Flaring
Approximately 300,000 people joined a march on November 11th in London, rallying under pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli slogans. The crowd included individuals displaying symbols of HAMAS, prompting police intervention to prevent clashes with counter-protesters. Dozens were arrested, and the Metropolitan Police issued announcements seeking information on those involved in the unauthorized actions, marking the initial fallout of the heated Armistice Day 2023.
The "National March for Palestine," organized by the left-wing "Stop the War" coalition, commenced after a two-minute silence at the Cenotaph war memorial in central London at 11:00 GMT to honour UK war casualties. Armistice Day traditionally remembers those who lost their lives in World War I in 1918, but this time, pro-Palestinian groups seized the occasion for their own objectives.
Photo: Although the march was intended to avoid hotspots on London's map, small groups acted beyond its route. Source: Metropolitan Police.
The march unfolded five weeks after HAMAS terrorists infiltrated Israeli towns, killing over 1,200 people and taking approximately 240 hostages.
Demonstrators on London's streets carried black-red-white-green Palestinian flags and anti-Israeli placards. While HAMAS claims over 11,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip since the war's onset, this figure remains unverifiable and likely includes both terrorists and their civilian casualties.
At the march's outset, protesters chanted "Free Palestine" and "Stop the Fire," along with the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," used by HAMAS supporters and other groups advocating for Israel's destruction. Many participants wore HAMAS insignias and covered their faces. Notably, HAMAS is proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK for its involvement in hate crimes.
Photo: Many protesters were seen wearing HAMAS insignias and concealing their faces. Source: Metropolitan Police.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, ahead of the heated Saturday, urged calm, requesting protesters to conduct the march "respectfully and peacefully." Approximately 1,850 police officers were deployed to maintain peace on Saturday. Home Secretary Suella Braverman accused the Metropolitan Police of showing more sympathy towards pro-Palestinian protests than others. Ministers from the central UK government called on London's municipal authorities to ban the march. Later, PM Sunak stated he would hold Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley accountable for allowing the demonstration. Since early October, UK Jewish organizations reported a surge in antisemitic incidents, raising concerns within the community about an escalating threat.