Pro-Palestine protesters march in UK cities as fears grow demos could disrupt Remembrance and cops arrest three
PRO-Palestine protesters have today taken to the streets of London and Newcastle amid fears demonstrations could disrupt Remembrance weekend.
Huge crowds have gathered to demand that Israel declare a ceasefire in its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
It is the fourth weekend of protests – with photos showing a sea of Palestinian flags near Trafalgar Square in London.
Protesters were heard chanting and “Gaza, stop the massacre” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as they waved flares in the air.
Cops rushed to respond to a group of protesters who sat down and blocked Oxford Circus and arrested three people.
The first was arrested after they were seen displaying a placard that could incite hated with the other two breached conditions of Section 12 of the Public Order Act and assaulted an officer.
Meanwhile in Newcastle thousands gathered this afternoon outside the city’s museum.
Demonstrators were seen waving flags reading “Israel get out of Palestine”.
It comes as Rishi Sunak warned pro-Palestine protesters against disrupting Remembrance weekend earlier this week.
The Prime Minister insisted events next weekend must be protected, saying organising a protest march was “provocative and disrespectful”.
A two-minute silence will be held at 11am next Saturday along with the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, which is attended by senior members of the Royal Family.
Mr Sunak has called on the Home Secretary Suella Braverman to give the police all the resources they need — which could even include using powers to have the protests banned.
The PM said: “There is a clear and present risk that the Cenotaph and other war memorials could be desecrated, something that would be an affront to the British public and the values we stand for.
“The right to remember, in peace and dignity, those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for those freedoms must be protected.
“I have asked the Home Secretary to support the Met Police in doing everything necessary to protect the sanctity of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.”
The Met has said it will do its best to stop disruptions happening.
It said: “We’re aware of media reporting and social media commentary suggesting next weekend’s remembrance events could be disrupted by protest.
“The protest organisers have not indicated any plans to protest on Remembrance Sunday.
“They do intend to hold a significant demonstration on the Saturday but they are engaging with our officers and have said they are willing to avoid the Whitehall area, recognising the sensitivities around that date.
“This is a weekend with huge national significance. We will use all the powers available to us to ensure anyone intent on disrupting it will not succeed.”
He spelled out how Public Order laws meant he could apply to the Home Secretary and London Mayor Sadiq Khan to get protests banned.
CEASEFIRE HOPES DASHED
Last week the Hamas chief Ghazi Hamad told Iranian TV the terror group will not stop until Israel is annihilated.
Britain’s Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said such calls were “an irresponsible stepping stone to yet more Hamas brutality”.
Hamad said: “Israel is a country that has no place on our land. We must remove that country. Does that mean the annihilation of Israel? – Yes, of course.”
The Hamas leader added their legion of thugs are ready to keep repeating October 7 style attacks until there are no Jewish people left in the tiny Middle Eastern state.
“Nobody should blame us for the things we do,” he said. “On October 7, October ten, October one million – everything we do is justified.”
On October 7, Hamas terrorists launched an attack on Israeli communities killing more than 1,400 people and taking at least 240 hostages – including small children.
In retaliation, Israel carried out strikes on Gaza and has now sent troops and tanks into the tiny enclave which is controlled by the fanatical terror group.
More than 9,200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far, two thirds of them women and minors, the Gaza Health Ministry said, without providing a breakdown between civilians and fighters.
More than 1,400 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ initial attack.
Rocket fire by Gaza militants into Israel has continued, disrupting life for millions of people and forcing an estimated 250,000 people to evacuate towns in northern and southern Israel.