2024-03-09 18:05:48
This content was published on March 9, 2024 – 8:00 p.m.
(Keystone-ATS) Thousands of people march in London on Saturday to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. This demonstration takes place a little more than five months following the start of a devastating war between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas in the Palestinian territory.
Leaving from Hyde Park Corner, in the center of the capital, the demonstrators having responded to the call of the “Palestine Solidarity Campaign” group, plan, under a very heavy police presence, to complete their march in front of the American embassy, where a tribune was set up for speeches.
In the procession and under a sea of Palestinian flags, some chant the slogan “Free, free Palestine” and demand a ceasefire “now”, denouncing the more than 30,000 deaths caused by Israeli strikes, according to the authorities. of the Islamist movement.
Some hold up signs reading “Stop the war in Gaza”, or “Stop the genocide”, but also “from the river (Jordan) to the sea (Mediterranean)”, a controversial slogan associated by some with the destruction of Israel.
Police criticized
The police, accused by certain political leaders of the right wing of the conservative party in power of being conciliatory with the demonstrators, had warned that they would do their work “without fear or bias” and would remain “independent, impartial” while defending “the democratic right” to demonstrate.
“We are clearly operating in a context where we understand that our Jewish and Muslim communities continue to be very concerned regarding anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes and regarding their own sense of safety in London,” said the command Karen Findlay, in a press release .
Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on police to take firm action once morest “intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence” and assured them of the government’s “support”.
Hate marches
Dozens of people were arrested for anti-Semitic songs and banners or for inviting support for a terrorist organization, during previous demonstrations organized since the start of the conflict.
“These demonstrations have become anti-Israel hate marches and we think that is enough,” denounced Itai Galmudy, organizer of a counter-demonstration on Saturday in London, quoted by the PA agency.
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