Thousands of pro-Palestine activists march previous Israeli embassy

Tens of hundreds of pro-Palestine marchers are taking to the streets of west London right now to demand a ceasefire in Gaza – passing the Israeli Embassy on its path

Police have arrested a lady on suspicion of assist for a proscribed organisation, as pro-Palestine marchers collect in Hyde Park forward of the procession.

Other marchers, a few of them kids, carried placards declaring ‘I assumed Hitler was useless’ and ‘Turns out killing youngsters is okay, I’m scared for my life’.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign predicted it anticipated over 200,000 hundreds folks to affix within the rally, which is supported by the Stop The War Coalition and Socialist Worker newspaper.

The Met police posted on X, previously Twitter, simply earlier than 1pm: ‘Tright here has been one arrest thus far on suspicion of assist for a proscribed organisation in relation to a placard.’

The Metropolitan Police mentioned the beginning time of 1.30pm permits time for a synagogue occasion to complete. The march started at Marble Arch at 1.30pm and can head down Park Lane, then Knightsbridge and Kensington Road

A spokesman for the pressure mentioned: ‘This is the primary time since a rally on October 9 that protest organisers have determined to carry an illustration within the neighborhood of the Israeli Embassy.

‘However, though protesters can be nearer to the embassy than in latest months, the identical exclusion zone that has been in place since mid-October will apply.

‘Participants within the protest can be stored greater than 100m away from the embassy grounds, behind limitations managed by officers. They is not going to be permitted to enter the world marked in pink on the map under and anybody doing so faces arrest.’

The Campaign Against Antisemitism complained that organisers marketed a begin time of 12.30pm – however police acknowledged this was the assembly time for protesters and they’d not be allowed to begin marching for an additional hour.

The CAS mentioned: ‘In earlier weeks, the marches have included folks supporting Hamas and brazenly flaunting their anti-Jewish racism, and congregants leaving synagogue needed to stroll via them.’

Speakers will tackle crowds close to the Israeli embassy they usually should cease by 5pm, whereas protesters should depart by 6pm, police mentioned.

The Met added: ‘We know there can be some who ask why that’s allowed or how that call was reached. 

‘It is a standard false impression that the police can grant or refuse permission for protests to happen which isn’t the case.’

Today’s protest is simply the second to happen close to the Israeli Embassy since October 7 final yr. 

Hundreds of protesters gathered outdoors the Embassy constructing on October 9 – simply two days after Hamas’ terror assault. Clashes passed off between rival teams of pro-Israeli and pro-Palestine demonstrators at close by High Street Kensington station.

‘An actual threat of great dysfunction’ adequate for the Met to request that the Home Secretary ban the protest has not been seen at latest demonstrations and isn’t anticipated right now, the Met added.

Protesters can be stored greater than 100m away from the embassy grounds, behind limitations managed by officers and face arrest if they don’t achieve this.

Precautions have additionally been taken to make sure the presence of protesters doesn’t unnecessarily disrupt different delicate premises, together with synagogues, both close to the beginning or alongside the route.

Conditions underneath Section 12 of the Public Order Act that means that any individual taking part within the march should not deviate from the route.

Police have additionally mentioned no gazebos or different stalls will be erected in a specified space at Marble Arch.

The use of additional police powers can be stored underneath assessment.

All officers ‘can be briefed to be looking out for offensive placards and banners’ and police groups will monitor CCTV of the demonstration because it occurs.

Commander Kyle Gordon, who will lead the policing operation, mentioned: ‘We are there to make sure protests happen lawfully, minimising disruption to the lifetime of the broader public and in a manner that offers due consideration to the cumulative impression on London’s communities and people who really feel most weak within the present local weather.

‘The protests we’ve got seen since October have fortunately been largely peaceable and we should take this into consideration in our policing strategy.

‘I hope the identical can be true this Saturday.

‘Unfortunately, regardless of this, we’ve got recurrently seen officers having to take care of offences associated to placards and different hate speech.

‘We don’t underestimate the concern this causes, nor the impression of such prison and unacceptable behaviour on wider group relations.

‘I might attraction to all these attending the protest on Saturday to behave throughout the legislation and to think about the impression of their actions on the security and safety of others. We is not going to hesitate to take motion towards those that fail to take action.’

At least 28,663 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel started its navy operation within the strip in October in response to the October 7 assaults, the place militants killed some 1,200 folks and took one other 250 hostage.

Israel is being urged to not ship floor forces into Rafah on the Egyptian border, the place most of the strip’s residents at the moment are residing after areas nearer to their houses turned engulfed by combating.

PSC director Ben Jamal mentioned: ‘At every stage of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza we have seen horrors that we by no means thought potential.

‘The photos this week from Israel’s bombardment of Rafah, of youngsters with limbs torn aside, must be seared on the conscience of the world.

‘Despite mounting strain from world leaders, and in defiance of the ICJ ruling, the Israeli authorities has made clear that it’s about to launch an assault on Rafah that can result in unprecedented ranges of carnage.

‘The ethical crucial is obvious.

‘An speedy ceasefire is a straightforward, absolute necessity.

‘The authorized crucial can be clear, the UK should abide by its duties underneath the Genocide Convention to stop any actions that make it complicit.

‘Our authorities and opposition are responsible of an historic failure of management and precept.

‘They have chosen to take the facet of these committing genocide over those that are its victims, and over the calls for of worldwide legislation.

‘We, with nearly all of folks within the UK, will proceed to carry them to account on our marches, protests, campaigns and within the voting cubicles.’