In central London, large-scale pro-Palestinian protests occurred alongside a counter-demonstration by Stop the Hate, prompting police intervention under the Public Order Act. Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, condemned the ongoing blockade affecting Gaza, asserting that the humanitarian crisis persists. He highlighted the threat of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and its impact spreading to the West Bank. These protests coincided with an influx of football fans for an upcoming match, intensifying the significance of the protests amid heightened public attention.
Hundreds of police officers have been deployed in central London as a mass pro-Palestinian protest and a rival counter-demonstration take place on Saturday. Nearby, a counter-demonstration organised by the group Stop the Hate will assemble at Coventry Street, close to Piccadilly Circus, prompting the Metropolitan Police to impose conditions on both protests under the Public Order Act.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, emphasized that the ongoing situation in Gaza continues to inflict suffering, stating, 'The genocide in Gaza has not ended. It continues by other means - by blocking supplies which are essential to human life.'
Jamal further articulated that, 'Israel's desire to ethnically cleanse and colonise Gaza has not disappeared; it remains a clear and present danger, which is now evident in the West Bank also.'
The demonstrations coincide with tens of thousands of football fans arriving in the capital ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup Final, indicating the protests are happening amid a significant public event.
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