By Tony O’Reilly-
Hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian activists swarmed London over the weekend, converging near Hyde Park and demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The air echoed with chants of “free Palestine” and “ceasefire now” as the colossal march, a call for peace, snaked its way towards the US embassy in Vauxhall, south of the Thames.
More than 100 counter-protesters were arrested including a large number in Pimlico, near the protest route, the Met Police says
Officers earlier faced aggression from some of the counter-protesters – who include some far-right groups – near the Cenotaph war memorial, police said.
Former Foreign Secretary, Michael Gove, was surrounded by pro-Palestinian protesters shouting “shame on you” at London’s Victoria Station on Saturday.
A source close to the levelling up secretary said he was returning from his constituency and had to be taken away in a police van.
Pro-Palestinian protesters chanted “shame on you” as the communities secretary, escorted by police officers, made his way through the concourse. Video footage posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, shows a number of protesters waving flags and surging towards Gove as Metropolitan police officers pushed them away and shouted at them to “get back”.
Gove was reportedly on his way to get a train at the central London station on Saturday evening.
Thousands of demonstrators marched in London on Armistice Day, calling for an Israel-Gaza ceasefire. Organisers have said that the march could be one of the biggest in British history and claimed that 800,000 people attended.
Footage posted on social media shows him being physically ushered through the station by police officers.
The magnitude of the gathering highlights the global resonance of the Israel-Gaza conflict, with protestors from various backgrounds uniting to express their solidarity with the Palestinian cause. As the sea of demonstrators set forth from Park Lane, the city resonated with a fervent call for an end to the violence that has gripped the region.
However, the quest for peaceful expression took a tumultuous turn as clashes erupted between police and counter-protesters near the Cenotaph. A group of far-right activists, adorned with St George’s flags, marched along Embankment, shouting defiantly, “England till I die.”
A tense standoff ensued as police sought to prevent them from reaching Whitehall. The confrontation escalated, with some in the far-right group brazenly pushing through police lines, prompting officers to respond with batons.
This volatile clash of voices added another layer of complexity to an already charged day, as Armistice Day traditionally commemorates the end of World War I and honors those who have sacrificed their lives for peace.
Amid the chaos, London Mayor Sadiq Khan pointed the finger at Home Secretary Suella Braverman, attributing the clashes to her words. Khan took to Twitter, expressing concern over the disorder and stating, “The scenes of disorder we witnessed by the far-right at the Cenotaph are a direct result of the Home Secretary’s words. The police’s job has been made much harder.
‘The Met have my full support to take action against anyone found spreading hate and breaking the law.”
‘The march, predominantly advocating for a ceasefire in a distant conflict, took on an unexpected dimension as tensions flared on the home front.
The clash between pro-Palestinian activists and far-right counter-protesters not only highlighted the complexities of expressing dissent in a democracy but also underscored the broader implications of global conflicts on local landscapes.
In the midst of the chaos, signs advocating for peace from various perspectives were visible. One poignant sign read, “Jews against genocide: our grief will not be weaponized,” offering a reminder that even within communities, perspectives on the ongoing conflict differ widely.
The diversity of the crowd, adorned with white poppies and some carrying olive branches, reflected a spectrum of beliefs united by a singular call for peace.
Chants of “free, free Palestine” and “ceasefire now” resonated, transcending the cacophony of discord that marked the clash between far-right activists and law enforcement.