closeicon
News

Thousands chant 'from the river to the sea' at London march

The Metropolitan police deployed 1000 extra officers at huge protest

articlemain

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: People take part in a demonstration in support of Palestine on October 14, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Groups supporting Palestine protest at Israel's retaliation to Hamas attacks across the UK this weekend despite the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, suggesting that waving Palestinian flags and using popular pro-Palestine slogans could be illegal under the Public Order Act in a letter she sent to police chiefs in England and Wales on Tuesday. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors took to the streets of London today, chanting 'from the river to the sea', a chant widely understood to be calling for the destruction of Israel.

Footage posted on social media showed waves of marchers streaming down Regent Street in central London early today as part of the official Palestine Solidarity Campaign march.

There were also sightings of demonstrators wearing illustrations of paratroopers on their clothes, believed to be a reference to Hamas terrorists who used improvised aerial craft to infiltrate Israeli territory last Saturday.

While number of marchers could not be confirmed, aerial footage of the event, which started at the BBC's headquarters off Oxford Street before heading to Westminster, showed what looked like thousands of protestors.

The BBC's New Broadcasting House was also covered in red paint by the Palestine Action group, who said that the BBC was "manufacturing consent for Israel’s war crimes.”

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke at the event alongside Palestinian representative to the UK Husam Zomlot.

The Metropolitan Police made seven arrests during the protest, on suspicion of breaches of the face covering order as well as public order offences.

Earlier, the Metropolitan Police said that they would arrest any protesters who deviate from an official route or carry signs supporting Hamas or any other proscribed terror groups.

Police also warned that those found supporting Hamas will be arrested, adding that they have assigned more than 1,000 officers to police the event taking place today in central London.

Authorities also said they have introduced powers to compel any demonstrator to remove facial coverings around the area of the protest and the Israeli embassy until 10 pm tonight.

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive