Pro-Palestine supporters demand immediate ceasefire as they march from Hyde Park to the US Embassy.
Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in central London on Saturday to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the protest followed months of violence after the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7. In retaliation, Israel’s continuous airstrikes on Gaza have resulted in significant casualties, with both sides suffering devastating losses.
Carrying Palestine flags and placards reading “stop the war on Gaza” and “ceasefire now,” protesters marched from Hyde Park Corner to the US Embassy. Chanting slogans like “Free Free Palestine” and “What do we want? Ceasefire. When do we want it? Now,” the demonstrators made their voices heard.
The Metropolitan Police reported that five individuals were arrested during the event. Two men were detained for allegedly chanting offensive slogans, while a woman was arrested for holding an inappropriate placard. A further two men were arrested for separate public order offences—one carrying a shield and wearing a helmet, and the other for assault.
Despite the arrests, the police reported no significant disturbances during the march, which attracted a large turnout. One participant, speaking on behalf of the campaign, urged the government to send a “strong, peaceful and loving message” in support of a ceasefire.
The march also coincided with International Women’s Day, with female volunteers from Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) joining the demonstration to highlight the Palestinian genocide as a gendered issue. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd, condemning the ongoing bombing in Gaza and calling for a halt to arms shipments to Israel.
Labour MP Apsana Begum also took part, reminding the crowd that women’s liberation must include the liberation of Palestinian women.
Amid the large protests, the cost of policing related demonstrations in London has risen to over £32 million, according to the Metropolitan Police, who reported that 35,464 officer shifts were involved in the operations. A counter-protest, organised by pro-Israel supporters, also took place on the same day in Victoria, central London.
