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| Thousands attend pro-Palestinian rally in London | |
| (2 days later) | |
| Several thousand Pro-Palestinian supporters have taken part in a demonstration in central London. | Several thousand Pro-Palestinian supporters have taken part in a demonstration in central London. |
| The rally - the latest UK protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) since the war in Gaza began in 2023 - comes as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal. | The rally - the latest UK protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) since the war in Gaza began in 2023 - comes as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal. |
| The static rally in Whitehall took place after police blocked plans by organisers to hold a march from Portland Place, near the headquarters of the BBC. | The static rally in Whitehall took place after police blocked plans by organisers to hold a march from Portland Place, near the headquarters of the BBC. |
| In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said there had been 77 arrests in total, more than 60 of which were people who allegedly breached conditions by breaking through a police line and gathering in Trafalgar Square. | In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said there had been 77 arrests in total, more than 60 of which were people who allegedly breached conditions by breaking through a police line and gathering in Trafalgar Square. |
| Police had prevented demonstrators gathering outside Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue and a risk there could be "serious disruption" as congregants attend services on the Jewish holy day. | Police had prevented demonstrators gathering outside Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue and a risk there could be "serious disruption" as congregants attend services on the Jewish holy day. |
| While the demonstration in Whitehall began largely without incident, a number of arrests for public order offences were made early in the day: one for displaying a placard that suggested support for banned organisations and another for pairing a swastika with the Israeli flag. | While the demonstration in Whitehall began largely without incident, a number of arrests for public order offences were made early in the day: one for displaying a placard that suggested support for banned organisations and another for pairing a swastika with the Israeli flag. |
| Later, a group of protesters - deemed to be made up of more than 1,000 people - attempted to march from the rally but were stopped a short distance away after breaking through a police line to gather at Trafalgar Square. | Later, a group of protesters - deemed to be made up of more than 1,000 people - attempted to march from the rally but were stopped a short distance away after breaking through a police line to gather at Trafalgar Square. |
| The square was blocked off by police vans and officers. The demonstrators were told to disperse and leave the area. However, some remained and were arrested for breach of conditions. | The square was blocked off by police vans and officers. The demonstrators were told to disperse and leave the area. However, some remained and were arrested for breach of conditions. |
| Earlier, the Met said that three people had been arrested on suspicion of breaching the conditions put in place near the BBC. | Earlier, the Met said that three people had been arrested on suspicion of breaching the conditions put in place near the BBC. |
| In total there were 65 arrests for breach of conditions, five for public order offences, two for obstructing police, one for support for a proscribed organisation, one for inciting racial hatred, one for common assault, one for assault on an emergency worker and one for sexual assault. | In total there were 65 arrests for breach of conditions, five for public order offences, two for obstructing police, one for support for a proscribed organisation, one for inciting racial hatred, one for common assault, one for assault on an emergency worker and one for sexual assault. |
| Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the policing operation, said: "We could not have been clearer about the conditions in place. Protesters were to remain in Whitehall with no march towards the BBC." | Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the policing operation, said: "We could not have been clearer about the conditions in place. Protesters were to remain in Whitehall with no march towards the BBC." |
| He added that it was "deeply disappointing to see a deliberate effort, involving organisers of the demonstration, to breach the conditions and attempt to march out of Whitehall." | He added that it was "deeply disappointing to see a deliberate effort, involving organisers of the demonstration, to breach the conditions and attempt to march out of Whitehall." |
| A smaller counter-protest involving pro-Israel supporters also took place near Whitehall while other pro-Palestinian protesters held demonstrations in Belfast and Londonderry. | A smaller counter-protest involving pro-Israel supporters also took place near Whitehall while other pro-Palestinian protesters held demonstrations in Belfast and Londonderry. |
| A counter-protest took place in the same area | A counter-protest took place in the same area |
| Posting on X ahead of the rally, the Met said any protesters entering a designated area near the BBC would "be committing a criminal offence and may face arrest". | Posting on X ahead of the rally, the Met said any protesters entering a designated area near the BBC would "be committing a criminal offence and may face arrest". |
| At the Whitehall protests, demonstrators could be seen holding signs reading: "Gaza. Stop the massacre" and "Stop arming Israel". | At the Whitehall protests, demonstrators could be seen holding signs reading: "Gaza. Stop the massacre" and "Stop arming Israel". |
| Meanwhile, one banner said: "Labour, Tories, BBC. You show Russia's crimes but hide Israel's. Why?" | Meanwhile, one banner said: "Labour, Tories, BBC. You show Russia's crimes but hide Israel's. Why?" |
| The PSC said they welcome the ceasefire agreement but have concerns over whether it will hold and are keeping the possibility of holding further marches under review. | The PSC said they welcome the ceasefire agreement but have concerns over whether it will hold and are keeping the possibility of holding further marches under review. |
| A group of protesters, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader John McDonnell, attempted to march from the rally | A group of protesters, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader John McDonnell, attempted to march from the rally |
| Police prevented demonstrators gathering outside Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue | Police prevented demonstrators gathering outside Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue |
| The PSC described the Met's conditions as "repressive" and called for the force to lift them. | The PSC described the Met's conditions as "repressive" and called for the force to lift them. |
| In a statement, Campaign Against Antisemitism said the marches posed a "threat" to synagogues. | In a statement, Campaign Against Antisemitism said the marches posed a "threat" to synagogues. |
| A spokesperson said: "It is shameful that the Met has refused to act on that threat" until this rally, adding police should "finally limit these marches to static protests, as we have been urging for over a year". | A spokesperson said: "It is shameful that the Met has refused to act on that threat" until this rally, adding police should "finally limit these marches to static protests, as we have been urging for over a year". |
| Hundreds of Hamas fighters stormed across Israel's southern border on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages back to Gaza. | Hundreds of Hamas fighters stormed across Israel's southern border on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages back to Gaza. |
| More than 46,700 people - the majority of them civilians - have been killed in Israel's military response, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. | More than 46,700 people - the majority of them civilians - have been killed in Israel's military response, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. |