Pro-Palestine London protest: Thousands march as Gaza expects invasion

  • The latest ITV News report on the pro-Palestine protest taking place in London on Saturday

Protesters have gathered in London today to take part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.

Prior to the march, the Metropolitan Police warned anyone showing support for Hamas or deviating from the planned route could face arrest.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House in Portland Place ahead of a pro-Palestinian march in London.

Palestine flags and supportive placards were waved as people chanted, with Metropolitan Police and community support officers stationed nearby.

A cordon had been placed outside the main entrance to the BBC building after red paint was thrown at its entrance early on Saturday morning.

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One supporter at the protest said the Israel-Hamas conflict is 'entirely one-sided' Credit: PA

The pro-Palestinian march set off from Portland Place just before 1pm.

Supporters let off red, green and black flares and chanted “Free, free Palestine”.

Several individuals jumped on top of a bus shelter on Regent Street before waving Palestinian flags.

Tensions briefly boiled over between a protester and a member of the public outside Hamley’s toy store on the street, with the former shouting angrily at the latter and calling him “a liar”.

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The gathering comes as Palestinians began a mass exodus from northern Gaza after Israel’s military told them to evacuate Credit: PA

Pro-Palestinian marchers made their way down Whitehall to a stage erected outside Downing Street.

Sweatshirts with supportive Palestinian messages were being sold at roadside stalls.

Chants of “Rishi Sunak, shame on you” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” rang out among the crowd.

Dozens of police officers were stationed outside the gates to the Prime Minister’s residence as others patrolled the large crowd.

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Those marching chanted: 'Rishi Sunak, shame on you' and 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' Credit: PA

A supporter at the pro-Palestinian march in central London has said the Israel-Hamas conflict is “entirely one-sided”.

Speaking on Regent Street, Mike, 55, from north-west London, said: “The injustice of the situation is just totally outstanding.

“Gaza has been under siege for 17 years and the conflict is entirely one-sided, and yet the media are presenting it as though it’s some kind of equal struggle or that Israel’s response is a justified response to terrorism.

“(There was) not a single word about the terrorism of the Israeli state over the last few decades.”

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Protesters let off red, green and black flares during the march Credit: PA

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the thousands at a pro-Palestine rally in London, calling on political leaders to condemn Israeli’s assault on Gaza.

“It is a day of solidarity and it is a day of hope,” the independent MP for Islington North told the crowd.

He said that around the world people were standing in support of the people in Gaza.

“There are many who say that nobody should be here today because they’ll be condoning terrible things. None of us are here to condone killing. None of us are here to condone occupation.

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Images of protesters taken at the pro-Palestine protest in London Credit: PA

“None of us are here to allow this assault on the people of Gaza and the people of the West Bank to go on.

“Today, as we wave the Palestinian flag, let’s hear it for the people of the West Bank, for the people of Gaza, for the people of the refugee camps, and say very bluntly to our political leaders in this country@ ‘do not condone war crimes, do not condone the starvation and the denial of medicine to desperate people in Gaza or anywhere else’.

“If you believe in international law, if you believe in human rights, then you must condemn what is happening now in Gaza by the Israeli army.”

It comes as Palestinians are scrambling to flee northern Gaza after Israel’s military told about one million people to leave for the southern part of the besieged territory.

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The protest comes a week after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel Credit: PA

Israel carried out some limited ground operations ahead of an expected wider land offensive against Gaza's militant Hamas rulers following their attack into southern Israel a week ago.

The unprecedented evacuation order applies to almost half of Gaza's population, including everyone in Gaza City.

Israel renewed calls on social media and in leaflets dropped from the air for residents of northern Gaza to relocate on Saturday.

Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups had said such a rapid exodus would cause untold human suffering.

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