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Thousands gather in London for pro-Palestinian march; 20 arrested

Demonstrators mark three years of conflict, call for UK to halt arms exports to Israel

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
Twenty people were arrested as thousands marched through central London on Saturday in a pro-Palestinian demonstration marking three years of conflict in Gaza, with organisers estimating 250,000 participants attended the rally organised by the Palestine Coalition.

Protesters gathered on the Embankment at midday, many wearing keffiyehs and carrying Palestine flags and placards reading "End the genocide" and "Free Palestine" before marching towards parliament. A two-minute silence was held to reflect on lives lost in Gaza.

The Metropolitan police said 20 arrests were made, including for criminal damage after individuals climbed onto the Battle of Britain memorial, carrying Palestine Action placards, making a Nazi salute, and assaulting police. Conditions were imposed on the event to minimise disruption, with a counter-protest by Stop The Hate also present.

Organisers said the march was the first national demonstration since Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced sweeping sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements and declared the UK government would take the official position that Israel's occupation of the West Bank was unlawful. Protesters are calling for the UK to stop supplying arms to Israel, which various bodies, including the UN, Amnesty International, and Israeli-based groups B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, have said is committing genocide.

A ceasefire was declared a year ago, but Israeli airstrikes have continued in Gaza. The overall death toll has risen by a further 1,400 in the last year. According to UN figures, 230 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers in 2025.

Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot shared video from the march on social media, saying: "Three years on, Israel's atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank continue, and so does the solidarity of the British people. Louder, bigger and not going anywhere."

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The protest underscores sustained public pressure on the UK government to change its policy on arms exports to Israel, following recent sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements.
  • The event highlights ongoing international attention on the Gaza conflict and West Bank violence, even after a ceasefire was declared a year ago.
  • The number of arrests and conditions imposed by police may shape future protest dynamics and free expression debates.

Background

Three years after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza, a ceasefire was reached but violence continues. The UK government under Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband recently imposed sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements and declared the occupation of the West Bank unlawful in its entirety, marking a policy shift. Pro-Palestinian groups have held over 30 mass demonstrations in London since October 2023.

Key Perspectives

Protesters and Palestine Coalition: They demand an end to UK arms sales to Israel and call for a full ceasefire. They argue the occupation and military actions constitute genocide, citing reports from multiple international and Israeli human rights organisations. UK Government: Has imposed sanctions on settlements and declared the West Bank occupation unlawful, but continues to provide arms to Israel. The government's position seeks to balance diplomatic relations with domestic pressure. Counter-protesters (Stop The Hate): Oppose the demonstration, arguing it is disruptive or that the pro-Palestinian cause is linked to antisemitism. Their presence and arrests for Nazi salutes indicate tensions.

What to Watch

  • The UK government's next moves on arms export licences to Israel, especially if protests continue.
  • Whether the death toll in Gaza and West Bank violence escalates or declines in the coming months.
  • Potential legal challenges or further parliamentary debates over the designation of Israel's occupation as unlawful.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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