A large crowd of pro-Palestine protesters took to the streets of London today, marching towards the Israeli embassy to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The demonstration saw tens of thousands of activists gather on Kensington Road, just a short distance from a group of counter-protesters on Kensington High Street.
These counter-protesters, although smaller in number, made their presence known with Israeli and Union Jack flags and loud dance music, including the controversial Eurovision entry “Hurricane” by Eden Golan.
Police Presence and Clashes
The Metropolitan Police created a strong security perimeter around the Israeli embassy to manage the situation and prevent the protesters from approaching the building.
Officers were stationed around Old Court Street, where the embassy is located, and six police vans were set up on Kensington High Street.
During the protest, some counter-protesters displayed signs with messages like “We love life more than Hamas loves death” and compared the recent attack on the Nova Festival to past terrorist incidents.
One sign read: “Nova – we will dance again,” while another counter-protester expressed pride in their Jewish identity and support for Israel.
Restrictions and Police Actions
Police had to manage the crowd carefully, especially at the gates of Kensington Gardens, to avoid any direct confrontations.
A few pro-Palestine protesters managed to breach roadblocks and briefly clashed with counter-protesters, who shouted phrases such as “Gaza is a fascist state” and “Bring them home.”
The situation became tense when at least two counter-protesters blocked the march’s route outside the Park Lane Hotel, leading to their detention by the police after a significant struggle.
Changes in Protest Timing
The National March for Palestine, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), was initially subject to strict conditions, including a start time of 2:30 pm.
The PSC argued that these conditions were intended to deter participants.
However, after the cancellation of a conflicting event along the protest route, the timings were adjusted to allow the march to proceed as planned, starting from Regent Street St James’s.
The PSC viewed this change as a victory for their democratic right to protest.
Protests in Dublin
In Dublin, demonstrators took to the streets to oppose Britain’s military support for Israel.
The Irish-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) organized this protest to express solidarity with Palestine and to call for an end to British complicity in the conflict.
Speakers at the event criticized the British government’s continued support for Israel and called for an end to arms exports to the region.
Demonstrators waved Palestinian and Irish flags and chanted slogans like “free, free Palestine.”
Ongoing Situation
As the protest in London neared its destination near the Israeli embassy, it followed a backdrop of international diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire.
Senior MI6 and CIA officials have publicly stated their work towards a ceasefire and restraint in the Middle East.
The crowd reached their destination around 3 pm, and the event is expected to conclude by 5 pm, adhering to the restrictions set by the Metropolitan Police.
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