Thousands of protesters have gathered in London one day after a ceasefire commenced with British jews and pro-Palestinian groups separated.
Demonstrations and protests began along Victoria Embankment on Saturday before taking part in rallies at Whitehall from 2.30pm.
Thousands have gathered in the capital as people sold keffiyehs, a traditional Palestinian scarf, and handed out placards.
The placards read ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’, ‘it’s not a crime to act against genocide’ and ‘Starmer has blood on his hands, free Palestine’.
The march comes a day after thousands of Palestinians returned to their homes in Gaza following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the military group Hamas.
Israeli forces have withdrawn from war-torn Gaza after its military agreed to a ceasefire on Friday, which came into effect at noon local time (10am BST).
Conditions have been imposed on demonstrations under the Public Order Act to ‘prevent serious disruption’, Scotland Yard said.
Today’s pro-Palestinian protest marks the 32nd national demonstration in support of Palestine since October 2023, according to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which organised the march.
Counter-protests organised by Stop The Hate are expected to take place between Aldwych and the Strand.
Police said it has put measures in place to prevent the two groups from clashing.
Following the fatal attack outside a synagogue in Manchester last week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said repeated protests have caused ‘considerable fear’ for the Jewish community.
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also urged protesters to ‘respect the grief of British Jews’.
Meanwhile, Ben Jamal, PSC director, said the group will ‘never stop’ supporting Palestinians to ‘achieve a free Palestine’.
The historic peace deal, resulting in a pause in the two-year war in the Middle East, follows Hamas’ agreement to release the 20 remaining living hostages.
Those hostages will be returned to Israel in exchange with 250 Palestinian prisoners, which is expected to take place on Monday.
News of the ceasefire agreement came just two days after the second anniversary of October 7.
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