Israel-Hamas war: Around 100,000 people descend on central London for pro-Palestine march

Thousands of people have joined a pro-Palestine march in central London calling for an end to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.

The Metropolitan Police said an estimated 100,000 demonstrators assembled on Saturday afternoon for the protest, with the procession travelling from Marble Arch to Whitehall and Parliament Square.

People held placards aloft saying “Free Palestine” while others unfurled a giant Palestinian flag and let off green smoke flares.

The gathering took place as the Rafah border crossing was opened on Saturday – allowing humanitarian aid to pass from Egypt into Gaza.

The aid shipments have been described as a “lifeline” by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly – although UN officials say they are insufficient to deal with the “catastrophe” unfolding in Gaza.

Protesters in the capital demanded an end to Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, in the wake of the surprise terror attack by Hamas on 7 October.

Follow live: First aid trucks enter Gaza as border crossing with Egypt opens

One woman, who asked not to be named, told Reuters: “As a Palestinian who’d like to return home one day, as a Palestinian who has brothers and sisters in Gaza, and family, I wish we can do more – but protest is what we can do at the minute.”

People were also heard chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – despite controversy over the meaning of the slogan.

The slogan was branded antisemitic by Home Secretary Suella Braverman – who claimed it is “widely understood” to call for the destruction of Israel.

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Jewish organisations have asked prosecutors to clarify whether chanting the slogan is a criminal offence.

But defenders of the slogan say it is a “long-standing protest chant” that calls for a homeland for the Palestinian people.

Police said there had been “pockets of disorder and some instances of hate speech” during the demonstration.

But the majority of activity has been “lawful and taken place without incident”.

Scotland Yard said on Saturday evening that a total of 10 arrests had been made for firework-related offences, a public order offence, affray, assaulting an emergency worker and public order offences.

It added that five police officers had “received minor injuries”.

The Met said has seen a huge rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes from the start of October.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: “It is not acceptable and I promise we will investigate.”

Conflict sparks protests across the globe

The war has sparked protests across the Arab world and beyond, with crowds gathering in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, as well as in Ireland, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Africa.

Hundreds of people marched in Rome on Saturday, with some demonstrators holding signs saying “Palestine, Rome is with you” and “No peace until we get freedom”.

In Australia, thousands gathered in central Sydney, shouting “shame, shame, Israel” and “Palestine will never die”.

And in New York, hundreds of protesters marched to US Senator Kristen Gillibrand’s Manhattan office, many shouting “ceasefire now”.

Demonstrators also gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in Mexico City, lighting candles and chanting “free Palestine”.

According to authorities in Gaza, more than 4,300 people have been killed in the territory since the latest war erupted.

More than 1,400 have been killed in Israel – mainly civilians during the 7 October attack. At least 307 soldiers have been killed, according to the Israeli military.

Hamas officials say at least 345 Palestinians have been killed in the last 24 hours, with seven hospitals out of service or running low on fuel after being hit by airstrikes.

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