Jeremy Corbyn leads protesters in London calling for ceasefire in Gaza

Jeremy Corbyn led protesters in London calling for a ceasefire in Gaza right this moment – with 20,000 becoming a member of the march regardless of organisers claiming ‘tons of of hundreds’ could be demonstrating. 

The former Labour Party chief was seen on the entrance of the protest surrounded by indicators calling for peace earlier than he made a speech imploring Rishi Sunak to name for a ceasefire.

Mr Corbyn mentioned: ‘We march as a result of we imagine; we march as a result of the Palestinian individuals need and want our assist.

‘If we do not get a ceasefire right here, the struggle goes on…we’re the voice for peace.’ 

Meanwhile, protesters introduced a big effigy of the present Labour Party chief, Sir Keir Starmer, with the phrases ‘Starmer for genocide’ written on its brow. 

Sir Keir was beforehand referred to as a ‘genocide enabler’ and accused of getting blood on his palms after he and different politicians refused to again requires a ceasefire in Gaza. 

Today’s London march was the primary because the International Court of Justice scolded Israel for its strikes on areas of Gaza closely populated by civilians, following a declare by South Africa that Israel is perpetrating genocide – an accusation it denies.

Organisers from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) had predicted ‘tons of of hundreds’ of individuals to attend the march, which set off at midday from Portland Place in Marylebone.

The Met says it made a variety of arrests after one marcher was accused of setting off a suspected smoke bomb or flare, whereas one other was handcuffed for allegedly chanting slogans that might incite racial hatred.

Scotland Yard has dispatched tons of of further officers to the streets for the protests, and mentioned on Saturday: ‘The overwhelming majority of these becoming a member of protests have completed so in a lawful and peaceable approach however a minority have damaged the legislation and arrests have been made.’

It says ‘anybody crossing the road right this moment ought to anticipate to be handled swiftly…(together with) anybody who carries placards and banners, or makes statements, that could be a spiritual or racially aggravated offence’. 

In a video message the senior officer operating the operation vowed the drive wouldn’t tolerate hate or inexcusable behaviour. 

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward mentioned in a clip posted on X, previously Twitter: ‘I do know that these protests may be extremely disruptive to companies, to residents, to individuals attempting to journey by means of central London.

‘But I need to reassure you that almost all of protesters will likely be peaceable and we have got an intensive operation with tons of of officers working to be sure that anyone who tries to trigger any difficulties is handled swiftly and successfully.’ 

While the PSC had mentioned ‘tons of of hundreds (had been) anticipated in London’, the Met estimated round 20,000 individuals had been collaborating, in keeping with a put up the drive made on X. 

Protesters carried banners studying ‘Freedom for Palestine’ and ‘End the Occupation’ as they marched down Regent Street, the place police stood along side the roads exterior retailers.

Some carried indicators within the form of watermelons – in deference to the fruit’s use as an emblem of Palestinian resistance to the early years of Israeli occupation, when the airing of Palestinian flags was banned. 

The procession took in Oxford Circus – which was closed to visitors for round half-hour because the march started – Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, Cockspur Street and Trafalgar Square earlier than advancing down Whitehall.

The street exterior Downing Street was initially off-limits to protesters after the Met refused to permit the march to proceed down the street whereas negotiating with organisers – however the drive later capitulated and allowed the complete path to go forward.

Officers had been seen guarding the Cenotaph, which was surrounded by waist-high metallic fences. 

Speakers together with former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn and RMT common secretary Mick Lynch are making speeches to the group imploring Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to name for a ceasefire.

Union boss Mr Lynch advised the crowds: ‘You have come out repeatedly to place your arms across the Palestinian individuals, to indicate your love and solidarity.

‘History will decide us. Where had been you on this interval? Who did you assist?

‘We will preserve going till we’ve peace in Palestine, peace within the area.’ 

The Met has ordered speeches to finish by 5pm and for the crowds to disperse inside half an hour following that point.

It has been handing leaflets to protesters advising them to ‘carry on the appropriate facet of the legislation’, with steerage on find out how to ‘keep away from ending up in our cells’ by means of the airing of offensive indicators or people who advocate for ‘acts of terrorism’.

DAC Ward has additionally authorised a Section 60AA order that allows officers to ask for face coverings to be eliminated if they think they’re getting used so as to conceal a person’s id.

But the drive has rubbished a declare from the Stop the War Coalition that it serves as a ‘ban’ on face coverings; the usage of such orders doesn’t prolong to non secular face coverings akin to burqas, or to these sporting masks for medical causes.

It mentioned on X: ‘This laws just isn’t a ban. It solely applies if officers imagine a face masking is being worn to hide id. It doesn’t apply to non secular face coverings and we are going to at all times take heed to the medically weak.’ 

Stop the War had mentioned: ‘Apart from the truth that this has not been raised at any of our conferences (with police), it is a gross violation of civil liberties.’ 

As with earlier marches, protesters are banned from getting into the realm of Kensington Palace Gardens and Kensington Road exterior the Israeli Embassy.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, accused Israel of committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza with its near-ceaseless shelling of the occupied territory since Hamas terrorists brutally killed 1,200 Israelis on October 7.

He mentioned of right this moment’s protest: ‘We have been marching and protesting in our tons of of hundreds for greater than three months warning … (that) Israel’s actions reveal a genocidal intent. 

‘Israel has thus far killed greater than 27,000 Palestinian males, ladies and youngsters. How lengthy will our political leaders proceed to assist and supply cowl for genocide?

‘We will march to Whitehall to convey our message residence to Downing Street – the UK should finish its complicity in Israel’s genocide and demand a ceasefire now.’

Protests additionally occurred in Cardiff, Edinburgh and in Newcastle, the place protesters gathered exterior the manufacturing unit of weapons agency Rafael, which is headquartered in Israel.

South Wales Police mentioned of the Cardiff procession: ‘We are conscious of the protest in central Cardiff right this moment. 

‘We have a visual police presence within the metropolis as officers work to make sure that guests can go about their enterprise safely. We are participating with these concerned and helping in facilitating lawful, peaceable protest.’

This is the eighth Day of Action for Palestine since Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, organised by a coalition of organisations together with Stop the War, Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to ‘destroy’ Hamas in response to the October 7 assaults. Israel has carried out strikes and deployed troops all through the Gaza Strip virtually endlessly since October, save for mediated breaks within the battle to permit for the alternate of hostages.

Last week, the International Court of Justice demanded that Israel do all it may to cut back civilian casualties after South Africa lodged a case alleging genocide.

It has additionally advised the state to keep away from taking any actions that might fall below the UN’s definition of genocide, which defines the act as killing, significantly harming or intentionally in search of to convey concerning the finish of a nationwide, ethnic, racial or non secular group, together with by stopping births.

In a ruling that coated most of what the African nation had requested for, the 17-judge panel additionally referred to as for Israel to facilitate the continued supply of support to the 1.4million Gazans that had been displaced by the struggle. 

But Mr Netanyahu fired again, calling the truth that the courtroom was prepared to debate the genocide costs a ‘mark of disgrace that won’t be erased for generations’ as he vowed to press forward with the struggle.

He mentioned: ‘Like each nation, Israel has the essential proper to defend itself. The courtroom within the Hague rightfully rejected the outrageous request to take that away from us.’

‘We will proceed to do what is important to defend our nation and defend our individuals.’

Despite this, the Associated Press stories that Hamas-sanctioned law enforcement officials are began to look on the rubble-strewn streets of Gaza City once more, suggesting the fear enclave is much from defeated.

Civil servants are additionally believed to be resuming duties in makeshift workplaces, because the group’s bureaucratic arm makes an attempt to renew public companies that it has been working since taking energy in 2007.

Hamas can be learning a proposed ceasefire deal that might see combating halt in Gaza so additional prisoner exchanges may be made with Israel.

But a name by the group’s prime political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, for the IDF’s navy operations to ‘fully finish’ in Gaza and for troops to withdraw has already been rejected by Israel. 

The UN estimates that greater than 69,000 buildings in Gaza – almost one third of all constructions within the territory – had been destroyed or reasonably broken within the months because the struggle started. 

Earlier this week, Britain mentioned future funding for a UN aid company that helps Palestinians hinges on the result of inquiries into allegations that workers took half within the October 7 assault.

Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell mentioned the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is ‘important’ to delivering humanitarian support into Gaza and the area, however added the UK is ‘appalled’ by the allegations of company workers being concerned within the atrocities.

The UK joined the US, Australia, Italy and different nations in pausing funding for UNRWA after it sacked a variety of workers accused of collaborating within the October assault.

The funding pause has sparked considerations concerning the influence the choice can have on the continued humanitarian disaster in Gaza because the Israeli bombardment continues.

The row over funding for UNRWA comes amid rising pressure within the Middle East after a drone assault on Sunday killed three US troops and injured dozens extra in north-eastern Jordan, close to the Syrian border.

Several opposition MPs have pressed the UK Government to droop arms gross sales to Israel following an interim ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The ICJ stopped wanting ordering a ceasefire in Gaza in a genocide case filed by South Africa, but it surely demanded that Israel tries to comprise loss of life and injury in its navy offensive.