Busloads of demonstrators from across the UK marched through London on Saturday demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, the tenth such demonstration since the conflict began.
While the protest was filled with drums, horns and noise, the build-up to it had more political noise than most, with the prime minister telling police chiefs that mob rule was replacing democratic rule and making Speech on the steps of Downing Street to warn extremists infiltrating marches.
When I relayed the Prime Minister’s words, Pat from Scunthorpe angrily said: “The mob rules.” She went to London with three friends.
“This is a ridiculous statement.
“Look at all these people here.
“This is government incitement against people trying to protest peacefully.”
Image: PA
London is preparing for demonstrations calling for a ceasefire.
One of the first people I met in the crowd certainly didn’t fit the description of “thug”: Welsh singer Charlotte Church, who told me she would be singing a song later and wanted to sing it before First feel the atmosphere of the parade. speech.
Jason Farrell talks to Charlotte Church
Further on, I met Ian from Hertfordshire.
“Gaza; this is hell on earth,” he said. “All these people in power are just sitting back and watching.”
A woman from Coventry added: “This is about standing up for humanity, that’s what we’re all here for. From all races, all religions, standing up for one thing and that’s a ceasefire now .”
As crowds surged toward Hyde Park Corner and the Walled Gardens of Buckingham Palace, they passed a procession of about 200 Jewish activists carrying banners also calling for a ceasefire.
Cheers erupted as the two groups merged.
Among them is Jewish pro-Palestinian activist Gillian Mosely. I relayed to her the words of counter-extremism czar Robin Simcox: Protests are turning London into a ‘no-go’ zone for Jews. She described it as “ridiculous”, adding “none of us are scared”.
But a small group of mainly Jewish counter-protesters gathered just outside Westminster Abbey.
“Aren’t you scared?” organizer Itai Galmundy asked.
He wanted the marches to end – “enough is enough,” he said.
He acknowledged that some Jews took part in the march but insisted they did not represent the majority.
“So many people who consider themselves liberals are marching here, chanting ‘From the river to the sea.’ Where does that leave us – the Jews, the Israelis who already live there – where does that leave us?”
Many interpreted slogans commonly used by protesters as anti-Semitic, calling for the annihilation of the state of Israel.
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Demonstrations were also held in Edinburgh on Saturday. Image: PA
Another counter-protester added: “The irony is that they are calling for genocide while saying stop genocide.
“Don’t you see the hypocrisy in it? So, the hypocrisy needs to stop.”
The counter-protest was held 30 meters from the main march, surrounded by a wall and heavy police surveillance, but was peaceful.
In a separate incident, an Iranian pro-Israel protester stood up next to the march and held a banner that read: “Hamas is a terrorist.”
Video shows someone pulling at him during the march and a scuffle ensued. Police intervened and removed the counter-protesters.
Some videos of police officers arresting the man for his banner were interpreted as police arresting the man for his banner. The message quickly spread on social media, but in some of the videos it was clear the police were trying to keep the peace. The man was later released from custody and the Met issued a statement clarifying what happened.
This is just a snapshot of the claims and counterclaims in the war of words. The true horrors of the conflict are so far away, yet for many it feels so close to home. The government will try to calm sentiments on both sides, but many at the march accused them of fanning the flames.
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