London Pro-Palestinian March Draws Thousands, Police Arrest 20
By The Media Line Staff
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday, October 10, demanding an end to British arms sales to Israel, as police arrested 20 people over suspected offenses and kept marchers separated from a smaller pro-Israel counterdemonstration.
Organized by the Palestine Coalition, the procession began along Victoria Embankment before crossing Westminster Bridge and continuing through central London to Whitehall, where participants gathered for a rally near Parliament.
Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and placards condemning Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Organizers estimated attendance at 250,000, although police had anticipated between 7,000 and 10,000 participants before the event. An independently verified attendance figure was not available.
The Metropolitan Police reported 20 arrests, including six people suspected of criminal damage after climbing the Battle of Britain memorial on Victoria Embankment. Two others were arrested for refusing police instructions to remove face coverings, while another two were detained over placards expressing support for Palestine Action, an organization banned under British terrorism legislation.
Other arrests included suspected public order offenses and assaulting police officers. The demonstration was otherwise largely peaceful.
A counterdemonstration organized by Stop The Hate attracted approximately 30 people outside New Scotland Yard. Police officers and barriers separated the two groups as the larger procession passed.
Authorities imposed restrictions on both demonstrations under public order legislation, specifying routes, assembly areas, and finishing times.
Before the march, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Carl Galvin warned that its proximity to the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel could heighten tensions.
The march came three days after the third anniversary of those attacks, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage.
Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the rally, linking recent British measures against Israeli settlements in the West Bank to continuing public demonstrations.
The protest followed further changes in British policy toward Israeli settlements, including additional trade restrictions, while pro-Palestinian organizations continued pressing the government for stronger action over Gaza.
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