People of all ages, men, women, and children, proudly display signs demanding the Israeli government to "cease bombing Gaza." Emotional pro-Palestine supporters fill the streets, their chants echoing through the city, and a multitude of Palestinian flags waves in a show of solidarity.
This gathering coincides with Palestinians commencing a large-scale evacuation from northern Gaza following Israel's military directive in anticipation of an impending ground invasion.
The UN, human rights organizations, and various voices have expressed profound concerns about the impact of Israeli actions on civilians, as the death toll continues to rise due to airstrikes and a siege on the region.
The Metropolitan Police Service has deployed over 1,000 officers to oversee the demonstration, where people are marching in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
During the past weekend, Hamas attacks on Israel resulted in a tragic loss of over 1,300 lives, primarily civilians. In response, Israeli forces have retaliated, causing the death of approximately 2,200 people in Gaza.
Orly Goldschmidt, the spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in the UK, emphasized that Israel's primary intent was not to target civilians. However, she acknowledged that innocent individuals would inevitably become casualties in this conflict with Hamas in Gaza. She articulated this perspective in an interview with Times Radio.
Demonstrations also occurred in various UK cities on Saturday, including Newcastle, where hundreds of people took to the streets in a show of solidarity with Palestinians.
Today, BBC headquarters, situated near the planned protest, was defaced with red paint amid controversy over the broadcaster's reluctance to label Hamas as terrorists.
Thousands of protesters gathered outside BBC's Broadcasting House before the march, waving Palestinian flags and displaying supportive placards while chanting slogans. Metropolitan Police and community support officers were present in the vicinity.
This situation coincides with the Metropolitan Police deploying 300 officers with a specific focus on addressing safety concerns for London's Jewish community, given a significant increase in reported hate crimes since the conflict's initiation last Saturday. Between September 29 and October 12, 2023, there were 105 reports of anti-Semitic incidents and 75 anti-Semitic offenses in London, contrasting with 14 incidents and 12 offenses during the same period in the previous year.
Islamophobia has also become more prevalent. There have been 54 Islamophobic offences and 58 incidents throughout the same time period. The same two weeks the year before saw 31 incidences and 34 violations related to Islamophobia.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, overseeing law enforcement in London this weekend, articulated, "Our responsibility as an impartial and independent service is to strike a balance between the right to engage in lawful protests and the potential disruption it may cause to London residents.
"It's essential to recognize that individuals do not possess the right to incite violence or hatred, and the law unequivocally deems support for banned organizations as unlawful. Individuals displaying flags in support of Hamas or any other proscribed terrorist group will face arrest.
"We will not tolerate the glorification of terrorism or death, nor will we permit anyone to incite violence."
The Metropolitan Police also clarified that displaying the Palestinian flag or expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause is not inherently a criminal offense. However, they noted that there may be specific situations where displaying a flag or banner could be interpreted as intimidating or intended to cause alarm and distress, potentially constituting a criminal offense.
Last night, the police force announced a set of restrictions for protesters, activating a Section 12 (3) of the Public Order Act 1986 for the planned march route, effective from 12 pm today.
In a statement issued by the police force, it was explained, "This entails that those involved must adhere to the prescribed route from Portland Place to Regent's Street, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, and Whitehall.
"Individuals participating in or linked to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration should refrain from straying from this route, as any deviation may lead to potential arrests."
Additionally, a Section 14 (3) Public Order Act 1986 condition has been enforced from 12 pm, prohibiting protesters from assembling in immediate proximity to Kensington Palace and the Israeli embassy. Violation of this restriction could result in potential arrests.
