300,000 stage pro-Palestinian rally in London on Armistice Day

The Metropolitan Police say more than 100 arrests were made on Armistice Day to keep counter-protesters away from confronting a four kilometre long column of Pro-Palestinian marchers.

Protesters holding placards and flags take part in the 'National March For Palestine' in central London on November 11. Picture: AFP

The Metropolitan Police reported many as 300,000 people took to central London on Armistice Day Saturday as they arrested more than 100 people to keep counter-protesters away from confronting a four kilometre long column of Pro-Palestinian marchers making their way from Hyde Park to the United States embassy in Pimlico.

Thousands of police scrambled to keep the peace in and around the Cenotaph in Whitehall at 11 am during the paying of respects to those killed in the First World War, with the Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley having rejected earlier political calls to ban the pro-Palestinian march which clashed with Remembrance weekend activities.

Before Saturday, tensions had escalated after Home Secretary Suella Braverman had labelled the pro-Palestinian protest as a march for “hate” and then accused the Met Police of uneven policing.

Police officers detain a man in the street close to the 'National March For Palestine' in central London. Picture: AFP

The day ended up being eventful and tense.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned both far right activists and Hamas supporters for their actions on Saturday and demanded the Met Police address criminal activity from everyone.

He said: “All criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law. That is what I told the Met police commissioner on Wednesday, that is what they are accountable for and that is what I expect.”

Late in the afternoon senior Tory MP Michael Gove was surrounded by Pro-Palestinian marchers screaming “shame on you” as he walked along a London street with a shopping bag and large numbers of police moved in behind him for protection amid chaotic scenes at Victoria station as he went to use the tube.

Counterprotesters outside the cenotaph for the Armistice Day remembrance service on November 11. Picture: Getty

Earlier, huge numbers of pro-Palestinians marchers, some spotted wearing green Hamas headbands, and a small minority holding inflammatory placards, made their way across the British capital several blocks away from the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

Organisers claimed that between 800,000 to a million people were in the march, although police officially estimated the crowd was 300,000.

A protester holds a placard while taking part in the 'National March For Palestine'. Picture: AFP

All the while, around a thousand counter demonstrators tried to make their way to the Cenotaph but were held by police about a block away, resulting in skirmishes with police, including a metal barrier being thrown. At parliament Square there were also clashes with police, who had “kettled” the counterprotesters. Some of those involved were members of the English Defence League, while police said some others were known as football hooligans.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan blamed these scenes of disorder as being “a direct result of the Home Secretary’s words”.

He added: “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.”

Mr Sunak said there were “violent and unacceptable scenes” from both the English Defence League and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine.

“The despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully,’’ he said.

He added: “What we have seen today does not defend the honour of our armed forces but utterly disrespects them. That is true for EDL thugs attacking police officers and trespassing on the Cenotaph, and it is true for those singing antisemitic chants and brandishing pro-Hamas signs and clothing on today’s protest. The fear and intimidation the Jewish community have experienced over the weekend is deplorable.”

The police later reported they were investigating some pro-Palestinian supporters who carried anti-Semitic signs, which included pictures of an Israeli snake gripping the world, a Nazi trope of leaders with horns and references to Zionism as “the disease”. Two men wearing Hamas headbands were also being investigated.

Pro-Palestinian protesters staged sit ins at the main transport hubs at Waterloo terminal, as well as causing disruption at Victoria station, which saw two charity volunteers selling Remembrance Day poppies moving their stall.

Some placards carried on the pro Palestinian march were highly controversial. One woman held a drawing of a coconut tree with pictures of Mr Sunak and Ms Braverman.

Another read “Peace is the white man’s word. Liberation is ours”, alongside a sign saying “You can’t fund the NHS but you can fund genocide”.

At Wellington Arch, a statue recognising the casualties from the Machine Gun Corps in WWI was wrapped in a Palestinian flag.