UK protest groups change Palestine march date to avoid overlap with Yom Kippur
Protest groups organising pro-Palestine marches through central London have rearranged their next national march to ensure it does not coincide with a Jewish holiday.
A source within the pro-Palestine coalition confirmed to Middle East Eye that it will bring fowards the protest originally planned for 12 October to avoid it clashing with the Yom Kippur festival.
A statement obtained by MEE revealed that the decision was taken after consultation with various groups and individuals, including Jewish activists, who form a significant contingent within the pro-Palestine movement.
"We need the largest possible mobilisation to demonstrate our solidarity, demand an end to the genocide, and to call on the British government to stop arming Israel," the statement read.
"To enable this, we previously announced a national demonstration in London on 12 October. However, following representations, including from members of the Jewish bloc - representing the thousands of Jewish people who have taken part in every single march over the past year, we have decided to change the date to 5 October to avoid a clash with Yom Kippur."
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An email seen by MEE also showed that London's Metropolitan Police had requested organisers consider rearranging the national march after raising concerns that it would clash with Yom Kippur and potentially impact services in nearby synagogues.
The coalition of groups includes the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al Aqsa, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Forum in Britain.
Middle East Eye sent a request for comment to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Metropolitan Police but had not yet received responses at the time of writing.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people attended the 18th national march against the war on Gaza.
The protestors marched towards the Israeli embassy in West London and dispersed near Hyde Park.
They were met with a heavy police presence near the Israeli embassy. A pro-Israeli group held its own event there to commemorate the hundreds killed at the Nova music festival and to demand the return of captives taken by Hamas on 7 October.
Pro-Palestine protest organisers accused the police of deploying disruptive tactics after officials tried to force organisers to change the start time of their march with only a few days' notice.
Officials later withdrew their demand for a change to the start time without explaining why.
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