Pro-Palestinian protest in London sees thousands call for bombing to stop
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have begun gathering in London for a protest urging an end to Israel's attacks in Gaza.
Last weekend, 100,000 people
took to the streets of the capital demanding an end to the bombing in Gaza, and police expect similar numbers again.
Rallies are expected in many UK cities, including Manchester and Glasgow.
The demos come as Israel expands its strikes, three weeks after Hamas launched an attack on its territory.
On Saturday afternoon, crowds started to gather near the Golden Jubilee Bridge holding signs saying "Gaza, stop the massacre" and "Free Palestine, end Israeli occupation".
A sound system led people to chant "Stop arming Israel. Stop bombing Gaza", "We are all Palestinian" along with a slogan saying "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
IMAGE SOURCE, PA MEDIA
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Police warned people to expect large crowds in the Westminster area next to the River Thames
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A number of demonstrations are planned this weekend across London, Westminster Council said
Home Secretary Suella Braverman had previously urged police chiefs to consider interpreting the "river to the sea" chant as an "expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world".
Large crowds are expected to gather around the Embankment, Whitehall, Strand, Westminster and Waterloo Bridge, the Metropolitan Police said.
The force said more than 1,000 officers have been deployed.
Elsewhere in the UK, thousands attended a pro-Palestinian rally outside Manchester's Central Library at St Peter's Square.
On Friday, the region's mayor Andy Burnham
joined international calls for "a ceasefire by all sides and for the hostages to be released unharmed".
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Greater Manchester Police said extra officers will be deployed at key locations around the city
IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS
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Demonstrators have been told to stick together and not to talk or interact with the police
Last weekend, similar numbers of officers were involved in policing demonstrations in London and 10 people were arrested on the day.
A video later emerged online of a pro-Palestinian protester chanting "jihad" at a smaller protest near the main march last weekend, but the Met said it "had not identified any offences arising from the specific clip".
It prompted Suella Braverman to
question Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley over why arrests had not been made.
Ahead of this weekend's demonstrations, the force said officers would be expected to intervene if protesters use the word "jihad" in chants.
"Jihad" literally means "effort" or "struggle" in Arabic. In Islam the main meaning is an internal struggle, such as a believer's struggle to live in accordance with their faith.
It can also be an outward struggle or war, which in Islamic teaching must be in self defence and within prescribed limits.
IMAGE SOURCE, EPA
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The Met Police said more than 1,000 officers will be on duty to provide reassurance - and to deal with anyone who breaks the law
Cdr Kyle Gordon, who is leading the police operation, said the protest would be policed "right up to the line of the law" and include discussions about "anything we've learnt from previous weeks".
He added: "If somebody is calling for jihad specifically against Israel the officers will intervene, gather the information, report it back into us and we'll be working with colleagues [from counter-terrorism] in relation to what the best course of action is."
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said calls for a ceasefire "aren't going to help the situation".
"Of course we want to see Israel safe, peaceful and secure," he said, but added there was no indication from Hamas that they would accept or abide by a ceasefire.
He warned the protesters to be mindful of misinformation and manipulation, and said that they should be wary of a "small minority" who have more "negative aims".
Demonstrations have been taking place around the world to call for fighting to stop and for aid to be allowed into Gaza.
Protesters demanding a truce flooded Grand Central Terminal in New York, forcing the station to close temporarily.
Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people and taking more than 220 hostages.
Since the attack, Israel has been carrying out strikes in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry says the strikes have killed more than 7,000 people.
