Israel-Hamas war: Thousands take to London streets in march against antisemitism
Before people gathered for the march against antisemitism, a large area around Westminster had been cordoned off to traffic with large numbers of police officers from around the country lining the route in central London.
Ahead of the largest demonstration held by British Jews since the Israel-Hamas war began, organisers from the Campaign Against Antisemitism said the large pro-Palestinian marches that have been held in the capital have made London a “no-go zone for Jews”.
As the crowds gathered, Boris Johnson spent a short time meeting marchers to show his support, while several celebrities helped lead the demonstration.
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Presenter Rachel Riley told Sky News: “I’m out here today because Jews in this country feel scared, they feel under attack, some people are scared to send their children to school.
“I’ve been looking over my shoulder like I never have before.”
Rachel Riley told Sky ‘I’ve been looking over my shoulder like I never have before’. Pic: PA
But in a nearby cafe, controversial far-right activist Tommy Robinson was live streaming to his online followers.
Organisers of the march had warned he would not be welcome, after he signalled his intention to attend.
Police warned him if he left the cafe to join the march they would move him on. As he came out, officers surrounded him.
He told them he was there in his capacity as a journalist, but police led him away and he was later arrested.
March organiser Stephen Silverman told Sky News he didn’t want Mr Robinson aligning himself with their cause.
“This march is about tolerance, it’s about inclusion, it’s about kindness,” he said.
“Anyone who wants to use it in order to exploit hate, or sew division is not welcome.”
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Tommy Robinson arrested
Many on the march spoke to their own experiences of antisemitism. But they accepted that the suffering of Palestinians had brought hundreds of thousands of British people out onto the streets in recent weeks.
“We obviously, obviously sympathise with innocent people of any description caught up in any conflict anywhere in the world,” one man said.
“We really mean that but it’s not OK to therefore equate and then attack British Jews for a conflict happening halfway across the world.”
Another woman condemned some of the chanting during the pro-Palestinian marches.
“People are allowed to have free speech but I think when you have ‘from the river to the sea’ – in the Jewish community that means one thing and that’s what we’re quite fearful about,” she said.
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Organisers estimated 60,000 took part in today’s march against antisemitism. Pic: Reuters
The march was peaceful, with chants of “bring them home” as people held up posters of Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas.
Actor Eddie Marsan – who isn’t Jewish but has previously spoken of antisemitism abuse he has received for playing a Jewish character – was among the crowd.
“There’s going to be moderate people on pro-Palestinian marches and there’s going to be moderate people here and what I’m here to do is to encourage moderate people to stand up and have a voice and to take on the extremists at any side,” he said.
“That’s what we need – we need more moderate people standing up.”
In the first 18 days of October, there was a 1,353% increase in antisemitic offences, the Met Police said. Pic: PA
Organisers estimated 60,000 took part in the first march against antisemitism held in London since the Israel-Hamas war began. The march finished just after 6pm.
A total of two arrests have taken place as of 6.10pm, including Mr Robinson. The Metropolitan Police said: “As the crowds left along Whitehall, a man was heard to make antisemitic comments.
“He was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.”
Addressing those marching during his speech, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told the crowd at Parliament Square British Jews “will not be intimidated” by antisemitism.
He said: “We call for a strengthening of community cohesion and we will forever be proud to champion the finest of British values.”
Other celebrities spotted in the crowd included Vanessa Feltz and Robert Rinder, as well as actors Tracy-Ann Oberman, Elliot Levey and Maureen Lipman.
Antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes motivated by racism have increased dramatically since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In the first 18 days of October, there was a 1,353% increase in antisemitic offences and a 140% rise in Islamophobic offences, the Met Police said at the time.
The Community Security Trust, which collects reports of antisemitism in the UK, recorded at least 805 antisemitic incidents between 7 and 27 October; the highest ever recorded in a 21-day period.
Tell Mama, which counts Islamophobic incidents, recorded 291 incidents of anti-Muslim hate between 7 and 19 October, a sixfold increase on the same period last year.
UK
Ireland pledging emergency legislation to send asylum seekers back to UK in wake of Rwanda bill being passed
Ireland is pledging emergency legislation enabling it to send asylum seekers back to the UK.
More than 80% of recent arrivals in the republic came via the land border with Northern Ireland, Irish justice minister Helen McEntee told a parliamentary committee last week.
Rishi Sunak told Sky News it showed the UK’s Rwanda scheme was already working as a deterrent after it finally became law last week.
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Ireland plans to return migrants to UK
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Ireland’s deputy prime minister has said the threat of deportation to Rwanda is causing migrants to head for Ireland instead of the UK.
Micheal Martin said the policy was already affecting Ireland because people are “fearful” of staying in the UK.
The former taoiseach told The Daily Telegraph: “Maybe that’s the impact it was designed to have.”
Protesters in Dublin. Pic: PA
Simon Harris, Ireland’s latest leader, has asked Ms McEntee to “bring proposals to cabinet to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe ‘third countries’ and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK”, a spokesman said.
Ms McEntee said she will be meeting UK Home Secretary James Cleverly in London on Monday.
“There are many reasons why we have seen an increase in migration towards Ireland,” she told RTE.
“My focus as minister for justice is making sure that we have an effective immigration structure and system.
“That’s why I’m introducing fast processing, that’s why I’ll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK, and that’s why I’ll be meeting with the home secretary to raise these issues on Monday.”
People are now “worried” about coming to the UK, Rishi Sunak has said.
He told Sky News: “If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won’t be able to stay here, they are much less likely to come, and that’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”
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Mr Sunak said the comments from Irish politicians show that “illegal migration is a global challenge”.
“[That] is why you’re seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe [they] will follow where the UK has led,” he said.
Shadow minister Wes Streeting said it was unlikely a Labour government would bring people back from Rwanda if some are sent there.
“Once people are settled in Rwanda, they’re settled in Rwanda,” he told Sky News, adding it was doubtful that Labour would “unpick that situation”.
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Regarding illegal migration in general, he said it required “putting the money that’s gone to Rwanda into the National Crime Agency so we can have proper cross-border policing to tackle the criminal gangs, speeding up the processing of decision-making, making sure we’ve got serious returns agreements with other countries”.
He added: “Those are solutions that can work.”
UK
Prince Harry returning to UK for first time since visiting King Charles following his cancer diagnosis
Prince Harry is returning to the UK next month for the first time since his rushed visit to see the King after his cancer diagnosis.
The Duke of Sussex will attend a ceremony on 8 May marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
The service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral is the first major event he has attended in Britain for some time.
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It is not known if any other royals will be in attendance at the service, or if the Duchess of Sussex or the couple’s children will be in the UK.
Harry made a brief trip to the UK in February, spending about 45 minutes with his father, who had just started treatment for cancer.
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The duke is expected to provide a reading at the event, which marks a decade since the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014.
The games were founded as a sporting event for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
Actor Damian Lewis is set to recite the Invictus poem during the service.
Representatives from across the Invictus Games participating nations, including members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community, will also be in attendance.
A man has died following a parachute incident at an industrial estate in County Durham.
Police were called to South West industrial estate in Shotton near Peterlee at 12.30pm on Saturday.
A man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are appealing for anyone who has dash cam footage of the moments leading up to the fatal incident.
They said they are treating the death as unexpected and inquiries are ongoing.
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Fire and ambulance services also attended, Durham Constabulary said.
Detective Chief Inspector Mel Sutherland, who is leading the investigation, said: “Officers are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling on the A19 at around 12.20pm to 12.30pm who may have mobile phone or dashcam footage which captures the moments leading up to the incident.
“Our thoughts remain with the man’s family at this time.”
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