Police in London have implemented measures aimed at preventing clashes between pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters, as a significant demonstration is set to take place following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has organised what will be its 32nd national pro-Palestine march and rally since October 2023, expected to gather hundreds of thousands in central London. The march is planned to follow a route along the Embankment, culminating in a rally at Whitehall. Meanwhile, a counter-protest organised by the group Stop The Hate is scheduled to occur near the junction of Aldwych and the Strand. The Metropolitan Police have enforced conditions under the Public Order Act to prevent serious disruption during these events, specifying designated areas for protests and the march route.

The recent ceasefire, announced by the Israeli military as coming into effect at noon local time, marks a pause in the two-year conflict that has seen intense fighting in Gaza. The agreement follows Hamas’s pledge to release remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, coinciding with heightened regional tensions since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have returned home in Gaza, and the pro-Palestinian protests in the UK reflect growing solidarity movements worldwide.

The police measures come in the wake of frequent demonstrations, including one in London last weekend which resulted in nearly 500 arrests. Most detainees were suspected of supporting Palestine Action, a group proscribed by the UK government earlier this year for vandalising military assets and now designated a terrorist organisation. Since the ban, over 2,000 people have faced arrests connected to the group, with more than 130 terrorism charges filed. The government has introduced new powers allowing police to consider the cumulative impact of repeat protests on local communities, aiming to strike a balance between safeguarding protest rights and ensuring public safety, particularly for vulnerable groups, including religious communities.

Calls for restraint and respect have followed violent incidents linked to the ongoing tensions, most notably the deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester on October 2. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood have urged protesters to avoid inflaming community tensions, with Mahmood highlighting the "considerable fear" experienced by the Jewish community amid recent large-scale protests. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has welcomed recently enhanced police powers, though some activists and civil liberties groups have criticised the government's approach as restrictive and potentially suppressive of free expression.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, reaffirmed the enduring commitment of his organisation to advocating for Palestinian rights, denouncing Israel’s military actions as genocidal and criticizing the ceasefire’s inability to address the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking ahead of the planned Saturday demonstration, he framed the protests as part of a broader, internationally supported resistance movement demanding justice and an end to occupation and apartheid policies. Jamal emphasised that Palestinians’ rights under international law are “inviolable and non-negotiable” and vowed continued activism to achieve a free Palestine.

This weekend’s events will test the effectiveness of police strategies designed to manage competing demonstrations while maintaining public order. The backdrop is a highly charged atmosphere, with the government navigating the difficult terrain of upholding civil liberties, protecting vulnerable communities, and responding to security concerns amid ongoing geopolitical conflict.

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Source: Noah Wire Services