Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers are on high alert this weekend as tens of thousands are expected to take part in a mass pro-Palestinian protest in central London, with a counter-demonstration planned nearby.
Pro-Palestinian protest: ‘End the siege of Gaza’
Under the Palestine Coalition banner, demonstrators will gather from midday on Saturday near Green Park Station, demanding an end to Israel’s siege of Gaza. The march is set to begin at 1pm, heading via Haymarket towards Whitehall, where a rally will be held.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), said:
“The genocide in Gaza has not ended. It continues by other means – by blocking supplies essential to human life. Israel’s desire to ethnically cleanse and colonise Gaza has not disappeared; it remains a clear and present danger, which is now evident in the West Bank also.”
Counter-protest in Piccadilly circus
At the same time, Stop the Hate UK has organised a counter-protest in Coventry Street, just off Piccadilly Circus. The group has dedicated their demonstration to Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were kidnapped and killed after being taken hostage by Hamas during their October 2023 attack on southern Israel.
On social media, Stop the Hate UK described the PSC’s protest as a “hate march”, escalating tensions between the two groups.
Public order act conditions and police readiness
The Metropolitan Police have imposed strict conditions on both protests under the Public Order Act, aiming to prevent clashes between demonstrators.
The force has deployed hundreds of officers across the capital, prepared for potential violent confrontations.
More Read
The police presence follows a series of previous incidents at similar protests:
- In January, over 70 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested in central London for allegedly breaching protest conditions.
- Last month, eight people were arrested at another demonstration.
The Met said it is committed to maintaining public order and ensuring both protests remain peaceful.
Busy weekend for London police
Beyond the two opposing demonstrations, the Met will also have to manage crowds of football fans and an unrelated protest against the new Chinese Embassy:
- Tens of thousands of Newcastle United and Liverpool fans are travelling to London for Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final at Wembley.
- At 3pm on Saturday, a protest against the construction of a new Chinese Embassy near the Royal Mint will take place, organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.
With multiple major events happening simultaneously, the Met is under significant pressure to prevent violence and disruption across the capital.
What’s next?
The rival protests in central London have already fuelled tensions online, and the presence of large crowds, combined with police-enforced restrictions, could lead to potential clashes.
The Met Police have warned that any breaches of protest conditions or violent behaviour will be met with swift action.
With the eyes of the nation on London this weekend, police will be working to keep the peace while ensuring the capital’s streets remain safe for all.
