LONDON (AP) – A protester was arrested Saturday in London on suspicion of inciting racial hatred, as tens of thousands of people turned out on central London’s streets for a pro-Palestinian march calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.
The National March for Palestine, which aimed to finish in Whitehall, central London, was the latest in several huge protests staged in the British capital every weekend since the Israel-Hamas war began last month.
Saturday’s protests came on the second day of a four-day cease-fire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.
Protesters light flares during a ‘National March For Palestine’ in central London on November 25, 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Protesters waves flags and banners as they take part in a ‘National March For Palestine’ in central London on November 25, 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Metropolitan Police said it arrested a man on suspicion of inciting racial hatred “near the start of the protest.”
“Officers spotted him carrying a placard with Nazi symbols on it,” police said.
Officers handed out leaflets at the march that sought to clarify what would be deemed an offence, after the force faced pressure from senior government officials to be tougher on alleged displays of antisemitism at the protests.
“Anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation,” said Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan.
“We will not tolerate anyone who celebrates or promotes acts of terrorism – such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people – or who spreads hate speech,” he added.
The force said 1,500 officers were deployed to police the march.
Protesters hold a banner in as they take part in a ‘National March For Palestine’ in central London on November 25, 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – NOVEMBER 25: People gather to stage demonstration to show solidarity with Palestinians for the 7th time as they take to the streets every Saturday since Oct 14 in London, United Kingdom on November 25, 2023. Crowds assembled in front of Hyde Park, a symbolic location in the city, and proceeded to march towards the parliament building with demanding the humanitarian pause in the conflict to be transformed into a lasting and permanent ceasefire. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – NOVEMBER 25: People gather to stage demonstration to show solidarity with Palestinians for the 7th time as they take to the streets every Saturday since Oct 14 in London, United Kingdom on November 25, 2023. Crowds assembled in front of Hyde Park, a symbolic location in the city, and proceeded to march towards the parliament building with demanding the humanitarian pause in the conflict to be transformed into a lasting and permanent ceasefire. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Earlier this month the U.K.´s former interior minister, Suella Braverman, came under heavy criticism when she described pro-Palestinian protesters as “hate marchers.” Critics accused her of inflaming tensions, and she was sacked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak soon after.
In Paris, a march staged for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women drew both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli activists as well as other groups.
Some protesters, waving Palestinian flags and posters reading “Free Palestine,” walked in a show of solidarity with “Gaza and Palestine´s women who are being murdered.”
A group of Jewish women also joined the march to denounce crimes committed by Hamas, including rapes and killings, chanting, “We are women, we are proud, we are Jewish and we are angry.”
Meanwhile, some pro-Palestinian protests were organized over the weekend in France´s major cities including Strasbourg, Lyon and Marseille.
Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the Islamist group, also protested Saturday outside the Egyptian Embassy in London. Tens of thousands of people are also expected to take part in a march organized by the Campaign Against Antisemitism charity on Sunday to show solidarity with the Jewish community in the U.K.
People take part in the National March for Palestine, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in Whitehall, central London to call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Picture date: Saturday November 25, 2023. (Photo by Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images)
People take part in the National March for Palestine, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in central London to call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Picture date: Saturday November 25, 2023. (Photo by Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images)
Protesters take part in a ‘National March For Palestine’ in central London on November 25, 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
