Tens of 1000’s of pro-Palestine protesters march from Hyde Park to Israel’s London embassy as they name for a ‘ceasefire now’

Tens of 1000’s of pro-Palestine marchers are taking to the streets of west London as we speak to demand a ceasefire in Gaza – passing the Israeli Embassy on its path

Police have arrested one individual on suspicion of assist for a proscribed organisation, as pro-Palestine marchers collect in Hyde Park forward of the procession.

Marchers have been informed they can’t start till an occasion at a synagogue alongside the route has completed.

The Palestine Solidarity Marketing campaign earlier predicted it anticipated over 200,000 1000’s folks to affix within the rally, which is supported by the Cease The Warfare Coalition and Socialist Employee newspaper.

The pressure posted on X, previously Twitter, simply earlier than 1pm: ‘Tright here has been one arrest to date on suspicion of assist for a proscribed organisation in relation to a placard.’

The Metropolitan Police mentioned the beginning time of 1.30pm permits time for a synagogue occasion to complete. The march started at Marble Arch at 1.30pm and can head down Park Lane, then Knightsbridge and Kensington Street

A spokesman for the pressure mentioned: ‘That is the primary time since a rally on October 9 that protest organisers have determined to carry an indication within the neighborhood of the Israeli Embassy.

‘Nonetheless, despite the fact that protesters will likely be nearer to the embassy than in latest months, the identical exclusion zone that has been in place since mid-October will apply.

‘Individuals within the protest will likely be stored greater than 100m away from the embassy grounds, behind obstacles managed by officers. They won’t be permitted to enter the world marked in pink on the map beneath and anybody doing so faces arrest.’

The Marketing campaign Towards Antisemitism complained that organisers marketed a begin time of 12.30pm – however police acknowledged this was the assembly time for protesters and they’d not be allowed to begin marching for an additional hour.

The CAS mentioned: ‘In earlier weeks, the marches have included folks supporting Hamas and brazenly flaunting their anti-Jewish racism, and congregants leaving synagogue needed to stroll via them.’

Audio system will deal with crowds close to the Israeli embassy and so they should cease by 5pm, whereas protesters should depart by 6pm, police mentioned.

The Met added: ‘We all know there will likely be some who ask why that’s allowed or how that call was reached. 

‘It’s a widespread false impression that the police can grant or refuse permission for protests to happen which isn’t the case.’

As we speak’s protest is barely the second to happen close to the Israeli Embassy since October 7 final yr. 

Tons of of protesters gathered outdoors the Embassy constructing on October 9 – simply two days after Hamas’ terror assault. Clashes happened between rival teams of pro-Israeli and pro-Palestine demonstrators at close by Excessive Avenue Kensington station.

‘An actual danger of great dysfunction’ adequate for the Met to request that the Residence Secretary ban the protest has not been seen at latest demonstrations and isn’t anticipated as we speak, the Met added.

Protesters will likely be stored greater than 100m away from the embassy grounds, behind obstacles managed by officers and face arrest if they don’t accomplish that.

Precautions have additionally been taken to make sure the presence of protesters doesn’t unnecessarily disrupt different delicate premises, together with synagogues, both close to the beginning or alongside the route.

Situations underneath Part 12 of the Public Order Act that means that any individual taking part within the march should not deviate from the route.

Police have additionally mentioned no gazebos or different stalls will be erected in a specified space at Marble Arch.

The usage of additional police powers will likely be stored underneath assessment.

All officers ‘will likely be briefed to be looking out for offensive placards and banners’ and police groups will monitor CCTV of the demonstration because it occurs.

Commander Kyle Gordon, who will lead the policing operation, mentioned: ‘We’re there to make sure protests happen lawfully, minimising disruption to the lifetime of the broader public and in a method that provides due consideration to the cumulative influence on London’s communities and people who really feel most susceptible within the present local weather.

‘The protests we’ve got seen since October have fortunately been largely peaceable and we should take this under consideration in our policing method.

‘I hope the identical will likely be true this Saturday.

‘Sadly, regardless of this, we’ve got often seen officers having to take care of offences associated to placards and different hate speech.

‘We don’t underestimate the concern this causes, nor the influence of such legal and unacceptable behaviour on wider neighborhood relations.

‘I’d enchantment to all these attending the protest on Saturday to behave inside the regulation and to contemplate the influence of their actions on the protection and safety of others. We is not going to hesitate to take motion towards those that fail to take action.’

A minimum of 28,663 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel started its army operation within the strip in October in response to the October 7 assaults, the place militants killed some 1,200 folks and took one other 250 hostage.

Israel is being urged to not ship floor forces into Rafah on the Egyptian border, the place most of the strip’s residents at the moment are residing after areas nearer to their properties grew to become engulfed by preventing.

PSC director Ben Jamal mentioned: ‘At every stage of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza we have seen horrors that we by no means thought doable.

‘The pictures this week from Israel’s bombardment of Rafah, of kids with limbs torn aside, needs to be seared on the conscience of the world.

‘Regardless of mounting strain from world leaders, and in defiance of the ICJ ruling, the Israeli authorities has made clear that it’s about to launch an assault on Rafah that may result in unprecedented ranges of carnage.

‘The ethical crucial is evident.

‘A right away ceasefire is a straightforward, absolute necessity.

‘The authorized crucial can also be clear, the UK should abide by its tasks underneath the Genocide Conference to stop any actions that make it complicit.

‘Our authorities and opposition are responsible of an historic failure of management and precept.

‘They’ve chosen to take the facet of these committing genocide over those that are its victims, and over the calls for of worldwide regulation.

‘We, with the vast majority of folks within the UK, will proceed to carry them to account on our marches, protests, campaigns and within the voting cubicles.’