Thousands of demonstrators advocating for the Palestinian cause rallied in central London on Saturday, demanding an end to Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip, triggered by a recent
series of events involving the Hamas militant group in Israel.
The protesters, many of whom waved Palestinian flags and carried signs reading "Free Palestine," gathered near Oxford Circus and then proceeded towards Downing Street, the official residence and office of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The crowd's chants were directed towards the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States, which were seen as supporters of Israel.
Belal Stitan, a 22-year-old student, expressed his deep concern for his family in Gaza, saying, "No one in Gaza is okay. My entire family is in Gaza, and none of them are okay." He longed to have regular conversations with his cousins about topics like sports and school, emphasizing the global magnitude of the problem. He added, "This situation is a significant issue for humanity, and it's difficult to believe that we have to remind the world that we are all human beings."
Asmat Malik, a 29-year-old pharmacist, conveyed the anger that many people felt about what they perceived as the long-standing oppression of Palestinians. She stressed that supporting Palestine did not equate to endorsing Hamas and emphasized that being pro-Palestine should not be misconstrued as being anti-Semitic.
Prior to the "March for Palestine," the police issued warnings that individuals displaying flags or symbols supporting groups designated as terrorist organizations by the UK, including Hamas, could face arrest.
At the conclusion of the demonstration, the police reported seven arrests, four of which were for refusing to remove face masks. Television footage depicted a group of protesters clashing with the police and launching fireworks.
Earlier on that Saturday, the BBC's headquarters, situated near the starting point of the march, had its entrance defaced with red paint. The culprits behind the defacement were not immediately identified.
Pro-Palestinian protests in solidarity with Gaza occurred in various other cities across the United Kingdom and around the world on the same day. Photo by claudia gabriela marques vieira, Wikimedia commons.