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Huge crowds march against Israel in London on Armistice Day, demand Gaza ceasefire
[IsraelTimes] Multitudes marched through the British capital on Saturday, as pro-Palestinian supporters made their latest mass call for a ceasefire, with police out in force to prevent clashes with counter-protesters.The "National March for Palestine," organized by the Stop the War Coalition, set off after a two-minute silence to remember Britain’s war dead on Armistice Day was observed at The Cenotaph war memorial in central London at 1100 GMT. Huge crowds of protesters waved black, red, white and green Palestinian flags and held aloft placards proclaiming "Stop Bombing Gaza," just over a month since Hamas terrorists swept over the border and ravaged Israeli communities, killing more than 1,200 and taking some 240 people hostage. ...London’s Metropolitan Police has made a total of nearly 100 arrests at previous pro-Palestinian marches, including for supporting Hamas, which is proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK, and hate crimes. But Saturday’s march has generated concern because it coincides with Armistice Day, commemorating the end of fighting in World War I in 1918 — and political criticisms about the policing operation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a late plea for calm late on Friday, calling for protesters to do so "respectfully and peacefully." Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said march organizers had changed the route from Hyde Park to the US Embassy in south London to ensure it would not pass any landmark memorials. Previous events have seen "small groups break away" and "their behavior has been escalating and becoming more violent," Taylor, who is leading the policing operation, told reporters. ...Taylor has said counter-protesters were likely to include groups of football hooligans, and police were "likely" to have to use force at some point against "pockets of confrontation." British media reported that Tommy Robinson, the leader of the far-right English Defence League, was among the counter-protesters. About 1,850 police officers, including some from other forces across Britain, have been drafted in to keep the peace, with 1,375 on Sunday, when a national service of remembrance takes place at The Cenotaph led by King Charles III, senior royals and political leaders. Related: Stop the War Coalition: 2019-06-26 Labour MP risks fresh anti-Semitism storm by inviting top figure from Houthi movement to Parliament Stop the War Coalition: 2016-10-13 UK Left-wing activists slam 'Stop the War' for refusing to protest against Russia Stop the War Coalition: 2014-09-05 100s hold anti-NATO rally in Newport, Wales Posted by: Grom the Reflective 2023-11-11 |
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