AI-generated illustration

Hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London to protest Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as British support for Israel. The march was called by civil society groups including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Stop the War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and set off from the Victoria Embankment area.

Participants chanted slogans such as "Free Palestine" and "Stop arming Israel" along the roughly four-kilometre route, which ended at the entrance to Downing Street, home of the prime minister's office. Addressing the crowd from a stage there, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said solidarity actions worldwide represent "a generation's moral stance," adding that the only way to stop what she called genocide is to change the world that enables it. Gaza journalist Hala Hanina, who heads the Gaza Families Platform, recounted leaving the territory days after her wedding and said a child in her family was killed while collecting flour from an aid distribution.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign said more than 250,000 people took part. London's Metropolitan Police said they detained a group of demonstrators, including two who carried a banner supporting the banned organisation Palestine Action and some who climbed on a memorial.

Key Takeaways

• The Palestine Solidarity Campaign said more than 250,000 people joined the march through central London.
• Speakers at Downing Street included union leader Maryam Eslamdoust and Gaza journalist Hala Hanina.
• Police arrested several protesters, including two carrying a banner for the banned group Palestine Action.