Hundreds of thousands march in London, demanding end to Gaza genocide
Hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli-led escalation across the Middle East.
The protesters filled the main streets of London, gathering outside Downing Street, the residence of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Organized by groups such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PCS), participants traveled from across the country to join the event. Organizers said an estimated 300,000 people came out on the streets.
Although the rally remained largely peaceful, the Metropolitan Police reported 17 arrests during the demonstration.
Former First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, participated to highlight the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza. Speaking to Sky News, Yousaf condemned Israel's ongoing attacks in Gaza and Lebanon.
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“The attacks in Lebanon are being condemned by the United Nations," Yousaf stated. He emphasized, “What we’re seeing here is not about being pro-Arab, pro-Muslim, or pro-Palestinian. It’s about being pro-humanity. We demand that people are held accountable under international law.”
Protesters blocked main roads, holding signs that read: “Shame on those who looked away from the sadistic genocide of mainly children in Gaza and the West Bank.”
Many demonstrators criticized the new Labour government led by Starmer, displaying posters that read, "Starmer has blood on his hands." Others waved Lebanese and Iranian flags, carrying banners that proclaimed “we do not stand with genocide” and “Zionism is racism,” while many chanted “free, free Palestine.”
Condemning the actions of the Netanyahu Government is not anti-Semitic.
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 5, 2024
Those on rallies up and down the country aren't pro-Arab, or simply pro-Palestinian, but pro-humanity.
When tens of thousands of children are being slaughtered, how can you justify silence and inaction? pic.twitter.com/Emx4pM5oYS
With thousands continuing to attend PSC marches approximately every three weeks, both the campaign group and the Metropolitan Police acknowledge that this is the largest protest movement in recent British history, surpassing even the historic 2003 anti-Iraq war demonstrations.
In an interview with The Guardian, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist noted that the past year has marked “the busiest period in terms of protests that we’ve ever had,” with major demonstrations occurring at a much higher frequency than previously observed.
“In addition to the [pro-Palestinian] marches, we are now seeing counter-protests, as well as a rise in what I would call cultural nationalists, or what some might characterize as right-wing groups, which have also increased resource demands,” he stated.
“We are concerned about the widening and deepening of the conflict and its implications for this country, particularly for London, across a range of issues. Our planning assumption is that these protests will continue.”
The Metropolitan Police has organized its response to all protests related to the Israel-Gaza war under the codename “Operation Brocks,” which has thus far cost £46.8 million and involved 60,000 shifts by local officers and 9,600 shifts from forces outside London
Global pro-Palestinian protests
In Cape Town, South Africa, hundreds marched to parliament, chanting "Israel is a racist state" and "We are all Palestinian," according to AFP. Pro-Gaza marches were also planned in Johannesburg and Durban on Saturday.
In France, hundreds of people took to the streets in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, and Strasbourg to show solidarity with the Palestinians, as noted by AFP journalists.
Several thousand gathered in Basel, Switzerland, for a pro-Palestinian demonstration, calling for a ceasefire, economic sanctions on Israel, and an end to Swiss scientific collaboration with the country, as reported by the Keystone-ATS news agency.
Additional pro-Palestinian protests were scheduled over the weekend and on Monday in cities including New York, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Manila, and Karachi.
This protest comes nearly a year after the start of Israel's war on Gaza, which began on 7 October, 2023, following Hamas’s multi-pronged offensive into southern Israel.
In a series of attacks on Israeli military installations and civilian areas, more than 1,100 Israeli soldiers, security personnel, and civilians were killed, most by Hamas and other Palestinians, with many deaths also resulting from Israel's Hannibal directive.
Additionally, 250 Israeli soldiers and civilians were taken captive and held in the Gaza Strip.
Since then, Israel has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of whom are women and children.
The Lebanese health ministry also reported that since 8 October of last year, ongoing Israeli attacks have resulted in 2,036 deaths and 9,653 injuries.
Since October 2023, at least 77 healthcare workers have been killed while on duty, with nearly a third of these deaths occurring within just 24 hours between 2 and 3 of October 2024, according to the UN's World Health Organization.
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