Pro-Palestinian march draws hundreds of thousands in London to call for cease-fire

Nov 11, 2023 ·

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in London and around the United Kingdom to protest Israel’s recent military offensive against Gaza. The protests have been joined by a wide variety of groups, from Muslims and Jews to Christians and atheists.

The demonstrations began after the Israeli government announced a ceasefire with Hamas on November 17th, following weeks of violence and civilian casualties in Gaza. Since then, protesters have gathered in London’s Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square, as well as in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and other cities, to demand an end to the conflict.

In London, protesters marched from Parliament Square to Downing Street, carrying placards that read "Stop the Killing" and "End the Siege," while chanting slogans like "Free Palestine" and "Israel out of Gaza." Other protests in cities across the UK called for the British government to impose sanctions on Israel and break off diplomatic relations.

The protests were also met with counter-protests from pro-Israel supporters. These pro-Israel demonstrators accused those protesting the Israeli offensive of being anti-Semitic and of supporting terrorism.

The protests in the UK have had a global impact, with many world leaders expressing their support for the Palestinians and condemning the military offensive in Gaza. On November 19th, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on the issue and called for an immediate truce.

Though the ceasefire agreement has held so far, there are concerns that the conflict could flare up again. Meanwhile, the protests in the UK continue, with demonstrators calling for an end to the violence and for a lasting peace in the region.