Key facts
- Thousands gathered in central London on Saturday to protest against Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Protesters called for the UK government to stop supplying arms to Israel.
- Organisers claimed 250,000 people attended the march.
- The Metropolitan police made several arrests.
- Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements and declared the UK government's position that Israel's occupation of the West Bank was unlawful.
- The Palestine Coalition organised the march, which included groups like Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War.
Thousands of people gathered in central London on Saturday to express support for Palestinians, with many calling for an end to what they described as 'genocide' by Israel. Demonstrators, many wearing keffiyehs and holding Palestine flags, marched from the Embankment towards parliament.
Protesters were demanding that the UK government cease supplying arms to Israel. Several bodies, including the UN, Amnesty International, B’Tselem, and Physicians for Human Rights, have stated that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. A ceasefire was declared a year ago, but Israeli airstrikes have continued, leading to an additional 1,400 deaths in Gaza over the past year. Attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank have also increased, with UN figures indicating 230 Palestinians were killed there by Israeli forces and settlers in 2025.
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, shared a video from the march, stating that Israel's atrocities continue and so does the solidarity of the British people. Organisers estimated that 250,000 people attended the march by Saturday afternoon.
The Metropolitan police imposed conditions on the event, organised by the Palestine Coalition, to minimise the risk of serious disruption. Several arrests were made, including for supporting Palestine Action and for climbing on the Battle of Britain memorial. The police also stated that protesters wearing face coverings to conceal their identity would be required to remove them.
The march follows a recent announcement by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who imposed sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements and declared the UK government's position that Israel's occupation of the West Bank was unlawful. Miliband also stated that settler terrorists supported by Benjamin Netanyahu's government are committing ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
A counter-protest by Stop The Hate also took place outside New Scotland Yard, with demonstrators required to remain within a designated area. Last Saturday, a smaller pro-Palestine demonstration was held on the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, which resulted in five arrests.