Thousands of demonstrators advocating for Palestinian rights gathered in London, blending cautious optimism with deep mistrust as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza entered its second day.
Ben Jamal, head of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign-which has coordinated large-scale monthly rallies in London since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023-expressed, “We stand here sharing the cautious hope of Palestinians, yet also their deep apprehension.”
“This unease stems from Israel’s history of breaching every ceasefire it has agreed to,” Jamal told AFP on Saturday.
Despite reservations about former US President Donald Trump’s proposed resolution for Gaza, which envisions a transitional administration ultimately led by Trump himself, Jamal acknowledged a palpable “wave of relief” among supporters.
Along the Thames embankment in central London, a vibrant sea of red and green-the colors of the Palestinian flag-marked the start of the largely peaceful procession.
Participants wore traditional black-and-white keffiyehs, brandished placards reading “End the Siege on Gaza” and “Stop the Genocide,” and chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Authorities intervened to remove several pro-Israel activists from the gathering.
Al Jazeera correspondent Rory Challands, reporting live from the event, noted that israel-kills-five-journalists-gaza-hospital-attack/” title=”Fury Erupts as …'s 'Double-Tap' Strike on Gaza Hospital Kills Five Journalists”>gaza-protests-paralyse-italy-pressure-on-meloni/” title=”Tensions Escalate: Meloni's Government Faces Growing Pressure Amid … Protests Paralyzing Italy | …-… Conflict Updates”>solidarity demonstrations for Palestine have been ongoing across the UK without pause.
Challands highlighted that while 32 protests have taken place so far, Saturday’s rally was notably large, drawing attendees from across the nation.
Supporters traveled by bus and train from cities including Bristol, Cambridge, and Sheffield to join the demonstration in London.
The UK government has increasingly imposed restrictions on pro-Palestinian protests, seeking to empower police with greater authority to limit such assemblies, Challands added.
Just last weekend, London police detained over 440 individuals during a rally supporting the banned group Palestine Action in central London.
According to Palestinian health officials, Israel’s two-year military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 67,000 deaths and triggered a dire humanitarian emergency. Last month, famine conditions were officially declared in parts of the blockaded territory, and a UN commission has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.
Challands reported widespread skepticism among protesters about the durability of the current ceasefire.
“There is significant concern about the ongoing influence of former US President Donald Trump,” he said.
Among the crowd, 23-year-old sociology and psychology student Katrina Scales described the ceasefire as “insufficient” and expressed her commitment to continue participating in demonstrations.
“My friends and I are here to ensure Gaza remains in the public eye, even during this fragile ceasefire,” she explained.
Trade unionist Steve Headley, in his 50s, shared similar doubts.
“While this may be a tentative step toward peace, history has shown us otherwise,” Headley told AFP, questioning Trump’s vision of a “Riviera” development in Gaza that the former president promoted earlier this year.
Miranda Finch, 74, marching with a group identifying as “descendants of Holocaust survivors opposing Gaza genocide,” described the ceasefire as “woefully inadequate.”
“Palestinians aren’t returning to their homes-they’re coming back to ruins layered over bodies and sewage,” she said.
Fabio Capogreco, 42, attending his fifth protest with his wife and two children, called the ceasefire “too little, too late,” emphasizing the need to hold those responsible for the conflict accountable.
“I hope this is one of the last times we have to gather like this,” the bar manager remarked. “But it’s premature to declare the situation resolved.”
Additional demonstrations were scheduled for later Saturday in European cities such as Berlin, with a major march planned for Sunday in Sydney, Australia, where pro-Palestinian rallies have recently drawn large crowds.
