Chaos in London as pro-Palestinian protesters march past bewildered shoppers | United Kingdom | News
There is a heavy police presence in central London after a pro-Palestinian march and counter-protest held amid Christmas shopping and Winter Wonderland festivities.
Bemused Christmas shoppers took photos as the streets around Piccadilly Circus in central London were flooded with pro-Palestinian protesters.
Stop the Hate counter-protesters gathered on Coventry Street, near Piccadilly Circus, on the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) route, to urge protesters to “stop supporting terrorism”.
Pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters cursed each other as they met in Coventry Street, but the two groups were separated by metal barriers and a line of police.
Before the protests, the Metropolitan Police warned that expressing support for the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanese militants Hezbollah was a criminal offense, as both organizations are banned terrorist organisations.
Offenses include chanting slogans, wearing clothing and displaying items such as flags, signs or logos expressing support for these groups.
The pro-Palestinian march was also blocked in Piccadilly Circus when a group of men holding a banner ran into the middle of the road.
They were pushed back by police after a brief struggle.
However, the Met posted on X later that afternoon that the PSC march had “passed the Stop The Hate counter-demonstration without incident”.
Scotland Yard said it expects it to be one of the busiest shopping weekends before Christmas. Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is also nearby.
The CPS speeches took place in Whitehall and the assembly was ordered to end at 4.30pm – with the Met Police confirming the protesters had now dispersed.
The group, which has been at the forefront of organizing pro-Palestinian marches across the country, is demanding an end to “British complicity in Israel’s genocide and apartheid” in Gaza.
The protest follows Tuesday evening’s agreement on a 60-day truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants aimed at suspending hostilities, with both sides withdrawing from southern Lebanon.
Last week, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and the military leader of Hamas, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza.
The UK would follow the procedure set out in domestic law when it comes to arrest warrants, Downing Street said.
