Hundreds of thousands stage Armistice Day pro-Palestinian rally in London
On Saturday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his disapproval of both far-right protestors and individuals who show sympathy towards Hamas. This statement came as a response to the massive demonstrations held in London by supporters of Palestine, who urged for an end to the violent conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Around 2,000 law enforcement officers were present to ensure that opposing factions are separated, during the event that was planned on Armistice Day. This is an annual occasion when homage is paid to the fallen soldiers of Britain through a solemn ceremony at the war memorials.
The protest happened despite a week of stress, where the authorities demanded it be cancelled and law enforcement claimed they detained many people.
Around 150 individuals who participated in the large demonstration were apprehended under laws related to public order due to their use of facial coverings and igniting fireworks. Additionally, 82 individuals who opposed the demonstration were detained as a precaution to avoid them from infiltrating the primary march.
Several men, a lot of whom were dressed in black and had their faces concealed, were seen attempting to breach police barricades at The Cenotaph war monument on Whitehall. They were also observed waving the St George's flag and the Union Jack.
According to the Metropolitan Police, law enforcement officers equipped with riot gear were met with a large amount of glass bottles thrown at them in the nearby area of Chinatown.
Sunak expressed his disapproval of the violent and inappropriate events that occurred today involving the English Defence League (EDL) and related organizations and individuals who support Hamas. He denounced these actions in a statement.
The reprehensible conduct of a small group of individuals weakens the credibility of those who opted to articulate their opinions in a non-violent manner.
Sunak refused to support a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He commented that during the weekend of remembrance, far-right individuals behaving like hooligans, making anti-Semitic chants and displaying clothing and signs in support of Hamas, had caused disruption.
He stated that any wrongdoing should be confronted with the complete extent of legal action.
The largest march in London since Hamas killed over 1,200 individuals and held 240 hostages on October 7th, as stated by Israel, was organized by the Stop the War Coalition.
Following the Israeli military operation in retaliation, the Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza has reported a total of approximately 11,000 fatalities.
Enormous groups of individuals energetically waved flags with black, red, white, and green colors associated with Palestine. They also lifted posters declaring their desire for an immediate stop in the bombing of Gaza, demanding for Palestine to be emancipated, calling for a ceasefire, and directly accusing Israel of being a terrorist nation.
According to the police, around 300,000 individuals showed up for the event, whereas the organizers believed the number to be around 800,000, which is comparable to the significant number of protesters who marched against the Iraq War in 2003 in London.
Disregard the political position and all other matters, it's not possible to just watch as individuals are being murdered," said Shiraz Bobra, age 41, who journeyed from Leicester located in central England. He also stated that he plans to attend every week until a ceasefire is implemented.
Father John McGowan, a Roman Catholic priest, expressed his empathy towards the Palestinians as their land is being occupied by oppressors who can be merciless. He holds on to the belief that a two-state solution would be best suited to address this concern.
The amount of individuals who were taken into custody during last Saturday's pro-Palestine protest surpassed the total number of arrests made at all previous demonstrations combined. These previous gatherings have resulted in individuals being apprehended for expressing hateful thoughts as well as exhibiting solidarity with a group known as Hamas, which is prohibited as a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom.
The authorities have announced their readiness for the emergence of small, fragmented factions and their anticipation of occasional episodes of disorder. They have expressed their worries regarding the assembly of far-right organizations, such as rowdy soccer fans who may gather to defend significant monuments.
Tommy Robinson, who previously founded and led the extremist group EDL, was spotted amidst a gathering of individuals protesting against the initial demonstration.
The police force for the city, the Metropolitan Police, declared that they are making an effort to find two individuals who were photographed wearing masks and headbands featuring the logo of the political organization Hamas during a march. They have pledged to take measures to address the situation once these individuals have been identified.
According to reports from British media, there were signs of slogans with anti-Semitic messages displayed alongside the posters.
Around 1,850 law enforcement officers, who include personnel from various police forces in the UK, have been called upon to maintain order.
A restricted area was established in the heart of London, encompassing The Cenotaph. A large number of individuals sporting poppies, which represent remembrance, congregated to honor the fallen soldiers by maintaining silence and placing wreaths.
On Sunday, King Charles III headed up a special event of national remembrance at the war memorial. Accompanying him were important leaders in both the royal family and politics, as well as respected veterans.
The Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who is known for her strong right-wing views, didn't do much to calm down the situation this week. She claimed that the police show more sympathy towards left-leaning protests and referred to the pro-Palestinian rallies as "hate marches".
Backing up for Palestinians has been a well-established principle of the left-wing politics in the United Kingdom.
Her adversaries in politics blamed her for making inappropriate remarks which gave confidence to far-right demonstrators to confront law enforcement, and inciting anger amongst supporters of Palestine.
Across Europe, there were additional demonstrations supporting the Palestinian cause. In Paris, several thousand individuals attended a pro-Palestinian rally, while over 20,000 showed up in Brussels.
During the march in Brussels, a group of protesters shouted "EU, you should be ashamed of yourselves" due to their belief that the EU shows favoritism towards Israel while disregarding the lives and rights of Palestinians.
