London, November 11, 2023, The Europe Today: Hundreds of thousands of protesters are heading to central London today to call for a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Palestinian group Hamas.
The march has drawn criticism from the prime minister and home secretary because it coincides with Armistice Day, when people across the UK remember the moment the guns of the First World War fell silent.
At noon, demonstrators will gather in Hyde Park, around a mile from the Cenotaph war memorial on Whitehall, before marching to the US embassy in Vauxhall on the south bank of the Thames, with the demonstration set to end at 4pm.
Organisers have predicted half a million people will gather in the capital in the “biggest demonstration” over the Israel-Hamas conflict, with the police bracing for huge numbers.
Previous rallies have proven controversial because some protesters have chanted offensive slurs, clashed with police and carried images appearing to support extremist groups.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has labelled the protest “provocative and disrespectful,” while Home Secretary Suella Braverman provoked widespread condemnation for an article she wrote in The Times in which she described those taking part as “hate marchers” and accused the police of “playing favourites” with left-wing groups over right-wing and national activists.
However, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley resisted banning the march and said, after looking at intelligence, the legal threshold for a ban had not been met – with the prime minister accepting the protest will go ahead.
The row caused by Ms Braverman’s article – which linked the pro-Palestinian demonstrations to marches seen in Northern Ireland – has seen her come under considerable criticism from within her own party, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt distancing himself from the home secretary’s criticism of the Met, though Downing Street said it has full confidence in her.
Subsequently, Mr Sunak has issued a “plea for unity” ahead of the march, urging those taking part to do so “respectfully and peacefully”.
He said in a statement: “This act of remembrance is fundamental to who we are as a country and I want to reassure those wishing to pay their respects, attend services and travel that they can and should do so.
“It is because of those who fought for this country and for the freedom we cherish that those who wish to protest can do so, but they must do so respectfully and peacefully.
“Remembrance weekend is sacred for us all and should be a moment of unity, of our shared British values and of solemn reflection.”
He said the Met “assure us they are taking all steps to ensure Remembrance services are safeguarded from any protests” and that the Cenotaph has been placed in an exclusion zone with a dedicated 24-hour police presence.
It is feared breakaway groups from the main pro-Palestine march could look for trouble by disrupting Armistice events, while far-right counter-demonstrators could further stretch police resources amid fears they could clash with pro-Palestinian protesters.
