Approximately 100,000 individuals participated in a pro-Palestinian rally in the heart of London on Saturday, marching through the streets of the British capital to advocate for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, following the Hamas attack on Israel that occurred two weeks ago.
Chanting the slogan "Free Palestine," displaying banners, and proudly waving Palestinian flags, the demonstrators traversed London before congregating at Downing Street, which serves as the official residence and workplace of the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
According to police estimates, around 100,000 people joined the "National March for Palestine" demonstration, an event organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Expressing her views on the matter, an unnamed woman said, "As a Palestinian who aspires to return home one day, as a Palestinian with relatives in Gaza, and family, I wish we could do more, but protesting is the most we can do at the moment."
Many of the chants and banners at the event featured robust anti-Israel slogans, and one protester displayed a banner featuring images of Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the caption "Wanted For War Crimes."
Before the march, the police had issued a warning that individuals showing support for Hamas, an organization classified as a terrorist group in the UK, would face arrest, and any instances of hate crimes would not be tolerated.
The protest appeared to be peaceful, with no immediate reports of arrests.
Data released on Friday revealed a 1,353 per cent surge in antisemitic incidents this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic incidents increased by 140 per cent.
"This has been an issue that has long stirred passions, and we are now all witnessing, on social media and within our communities, how divisive and polarizing the current situation has become," stated British Foreign Minister James Cleverly at a peace summit held in Cairo.
Â
