Support for “resistance by any means necessary”, “River to the Sea” chants and placards about “Zionist dogs” all featured in the Iran regime-inspired Al Quds Day rally in London on Friday.
The anti-Israel march, which the Met estimates attracted 1,000 people, began outside the Home Office and travelled past Parliament amid a heavy police presence. It culminated outside Downing Street where speeches were given from activists including David Miller, Revered Stephen Sizer, Rabbi Beck of Neturei Karta and Latifa Abouchakra.
Ten protesters were arrested on suspected offences including inciting racial hatred and assault.
Abouchakra, whose October 7 video of herself praising the Hamas attack on Israel as a “moment of pride” went viral at the time, said on stage: “Liberation is happening before our eyes. We are seeing Palestine being liberated because of the resistance. Big up the resistance.”
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She added that America’s “duality of its position” is evidence that the “largest American project in west Asia is failing in its functional role of protecting Western interests. It has in fact turned into a liability. They will drop it soon.”
Chants during the march included “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, “Israel is a terrorist state”, and “Rishi Sunak is a waste man”.
Numerous placards called for resistance “by any means necessary” and “From the river to the sea. Single democratic state: Palestine the only solution”.
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One cardboard sign read, “October 7? What about 1946, 1947, 1967, 2005”. Another read “Muslims of the world. Your leaders (the dogs of the Zionists) allowed their masters to starve and slaughter your Palestinian brothers. Defend your brothers.”
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At least two images were carried of Aaron Bushnell, the 25-year-old American serviceman who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washing DC in February in protest over what he claimed was the United States’ “complicity in genocide.”
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Addressing the crowd in a speech, David Miller said he wanted to talk to the crowd “about the need to end Zionism.”
He said: “We cannot speak out for Palestine efficiently and effectively until we remove this terrible entity [Zionism] from this country.”
He said there are “2,000 Zionist organisations” in this country and “every [single] one needs to be ended.”
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He claimed Zionism has been “embedded” into British politics. “At No. 10, at the Foreign Office, at the Ministry of Defence you’ll find government departments in which Zionism is embedded.”
Miller added that “less than one per cent” of employees in the Ministry of Defence were Muslim, while in the top ranks there are “no Muslims, zero, not one single Muslim. That is part of the reason why the British government is still supporting the Zionist terror [state].”
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Participants in the march included representatives from the Jewish fringe group Neturei Karta, 5Pillars, Campain, Hands off Uhuru! Hands off Africa!, Black Lives Matter Coalition UK, Islamic Human Rights Commission and Scotland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
The former director of the Islamic Centre of England, Seyed Hashem Moosavi, was also present.
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The Met police said ten people were arrested for crimes varying from assaulting an emergency worker, two on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after an Israeli flag was burned by Neturei Karta members, public order offences, and for obstructing police.
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A pro-Israel counter-protest was organised in Parliament Square. The two groups chanted at each other as the Quds Day convoy passed.
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Pro-Palestinian groups chanted “shame on you” and “Israel is a terrorist state”, while the Israeli groups chanted “terrorist supporters off our streets”, “no hostages no ceasefire”, “am Yisrael chai” and “bring them home.”
