Eleven people arrested at pro-Palestine march in London as Gaza war rumbles on

17 February 2024 , 17:14

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Police officers and pro-Palestine demonstrators in central London today (Image: PA)

Eleven people have been arrested at a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London as around 200,000 and 250,000 people descended on the capital.

The arrests were for a string of alleged offences, including inciting racial hatred, suspicion of support for a criminal organisation concerning a placard, and assaulting emergency workers. Protesters met at the south of Park Lane, holding banners calling for a "ceasefire now" and chanting "free, free Palestine", before leaving for a designated place near the Israeli embassy where speeches would be made.

Among the speakers was former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot, who both called for justice for the Palestinian people. The Islington North MP also told the crowd he will be voting in support of a ceasefire motion being held by Westminster next week, due to be tabled by the Scottish National Party. New airstrikes in central Gaza on Saturday killed more than 40 people, including children, and wounded at least 50, according to Associated Press journalists and hospital officials.

Israel's air and ground offensive, triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel which slaughtered more than 1,100, has killed nearly 29,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave. It has caused widespread destruction, displaced some 80% of the population and sparked a humanitarian crisis. Over the past few days, Israel’s military has raided Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the main hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, saying it had evidence that Israeli hostages had been held there. It found no hostages but said it arrested 100 militants, 20 of whom it claimed had been involved in the attacks that started the war. A surgeon at the hospital said one patient had been killed in the raid.

A police officer talking to a person taking part in a pro-Palestine march in central London (PA)

Before the march in London began at 1.30pm, the Metropolitan Police announced on X, formerly Twitter, that officers had arrested one person on suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation concerning a placard. About two hours later they tweeted: "Officers have made nine further arrests during an incident at Hyde Park Corner. A man was seen in the crowd with an antisemitic placard. He has been arrested for inciting racial hatred. When officers went in to arrest him they were assaulted, resulting in six arrests for assaulting an emergency worker. Two other people were arrested for refusing to remove face coverings when required to do so by officers under Section 60AA of the Public Order Act."

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At around 4pm, the Met announced one further arrest "for an antisemitic placard", bringing the total number of arrests so far to 11. The force explained that the Section 60AA order requires anyone wearing a face covering "for the purpose of concealing their identity" to remove it when asked to do so. It is in force until 8pm in a designated area. As a result of the incident at Hyde Park Corner, a Section 60 order is now in force in the same area until the same time, providing officers with additional search powers "to prevent further violence", the Met added.

Hundreds of thousands of people take part in a pro-Palestine march in central London (PA)

A Section 35 dispersal order is also now in place until 11pm, meaning anyone refusing a direction to leave the area can be arrested. Mr Corbyn took to the stage amid raucous applause, telling the crowd: "We've got to carry on. This is the 14th national demonstration and there's going to be as many more as it takes until there is a ceasefire, until there is justice for the Palestinian people."

He added: "We're witnessing something globally horrific in real time on our televisions. And so on Wednesday, when the UK Parliament has a motion before it tabled by the Scottish National Party, I am signing in support of that motion. And I want every one of you here demand, demand of your MP, your elected representative, be there, vote for a ceasefire. No ifs, no buts, no qualifications."

Mr Zomlot told the crowd: "You see what is happening, you are horrified at what is happening, you are shocked to your core at the inaction of your government. Hang on to your anger, hang on to your enragement, hang on to your horror and use it, use it in the pursuit of justice."

Rachel Hagan