The newest protest comes a day after the UK abstained from voting on a UNSC decision demanding ceasefire, which the US vetoed.
Tens of hundreds of individuals have converged on the UK capital for one more weekend of protests, calling for a direct finish to Israel’s assault on Gaza and criticising their authorities for failing to vote in favour of a ceasefire within the besieged enclave.
The protesters marched from London’s Financial institution Junction to Parliament Sq. on Saturday, holding placards saying “Ceasefire now”, “End genocide” and the favored Palestinian slogan: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Many on the march criticised the UK for abstaining from a United Nations Safety Council (UNSC) decision calling for a direct ceasefire in Gaza, which was vetoed by the United States.
UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres had triggered the vote by invoking Article 99 of the UN constitution, a measure unused in many years, saying that “the people of Gaza are looking into the abyss”.
The article permits the Secretary-Basic to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”.
Israel’s warfare on Gaza has up to now led to the deaths of at the very least 17,700 Palestinians – greater than 70 p.c of them ladies and youngsters.
The Palestine Solidarity Marketing campaign, Cease the Struggle Coalition and Mates of Al Aqsa had been among the many teams that participated within the London rally, attended by 100,000 folks, in response to the organisers.
The London Metropolitan Police mentioned an estimated 40,000 attended, native media reported.
It is our sixth nationwide March for Palestine and nonetheless we come out in big numbers to demand a everlasting ceasefire now!
London stands with #Gaza pic.twitter.com/yrdxTlrbAH— PSC (@PSCupdates) December 9, 2023
The march went on with out main incidents and beneath strict situations set out by the police, together with an exclusion zone to forestall the demonstrators from assembling across the Israeli embassy.
Police, in a press release on X, mentioned 13 protesters had been arrested, largely for offensive placards. A girl was recognized by means of the police’s specialist Voyager CCTV monitoring workforce and arrested for an alleged offence that came about throughout a earlier protest.
A person with a placard “making comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany” was additionally arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, the police mentioned.
Protests and solidarity marches have been held in London and cities across the world because the begin of the Israel-Palestine battle two months in the past.
Final month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacked Residence Secretary Suella Braverman, who drew anger for accusing the police of being too lenient with pro-Palestinian protesters and calling such demonstrations “hate marches”.
