More than 300,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday, with police arresting over 120 people as they sought to stop far-right counter-protesters from ambushing the main rally.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was disrespectful to hold the rally the same day as the commemorations, and ministers had called for the cancellation of the march - the biggest so far in a series to show support for the Palestinians and call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Police said there were several hundred counter-protesters on the streets of central London, and skirmishes broke out near the Cenotaph war memorial early on Saturday.
Some protesters threw bottles and metal barriers at officers in what the force described as “unacceptable violence”.
Pro-Palestinian protesters could be heard chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, a rallying cry which is viewed by many Jews as antisemitic and a call for Israel’s eradication.
But the Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with weekly protests in London demanding a ceasefire.
Some French leftist politicians have welcomed President Emmanuel Macron’s call this week for a ceasefire, including in an interview with the BBC released late on Friday in which he opposed Israel’s bombing of Gaza.
The original article contains 472 words, the summary contains 177 words. Saved 62%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was disrespectful to hold the rally the same day as the commemorations, and ministers had called for the cancellation of the march - the biggest so far in a series to show support for the Palestinians and call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Police said there were several hundred counter-protesters on the streets of central London, and skirmishes broke out near the Cenotaph war memorial early on Saturday.
Some protesters threw bottles and metal barriers at officers in what the force described as “unacceptable violence”.
Pro-Palestinian protesters could be heard chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, a rallying cry which is viewed by many Jews as antisemitic and a call for Israel’s eradication.
But the Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with weekly protests in London demanding a ceasefire.
Some French leftist politicians have welcomed President Emmanuel Macron’s call this week for a ceasefire, including in an interview with the BBC released late on Friday in which he opposed Israel’s bombing of Gaza.
The original article contains 472 words, the summary contains 177 words. Saved 62%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!