Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in central London on Saturday to urge Andy Burnham, the newly elected Labour leader poised to become prime minister on Monday, to adopt a firmer stance on Israel. The National March for Palestine, organised by the Palestine Coalition, drew a significant crowd that marched from Russell Square to Westminster under close supervision by the Metropolitan Police, who implemented strict conditions under the Public Order Act to minimize disruption to local residents.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who led the march, called on Burnham to halt British support for what he described as "acts of genocide" and to cease arms supplies to Israel. Speaking at a rally in Whitehall near Downing Street, Corbyn expressed support for imposing stringent sanctions on Israel in response to its actions, emphasizing ongoing solidarity with the Palestinian people. “We will never shut up. We will never go away. We will never give up because the Palestinian people demand that,” he told the crowd.
The protest featured a range of Palestinian flags and homemade signs with messages such as “Stop stealing Palestinian land,” “Stop the pogroms in the West Bank now,” “It’s not a crime to act against genocide,” “Hands off Gaza,” “Stop starving Gaza,” and “Ceasefire now.” Participants also brought drums and chanted slogans including “free our prisoners now.”
Police reported the presence of a small counter-demonstration near The Strand, where eight people were arrested on charges including assault and racially aggravated public order offences. Earlier in the march, protesters passed through the entertainment and tourism area, chanting messages critical of the ongoing conflict.
Burnham, a Member of Parliament for Makerfield, acknowledged last week that the Labour Party had been slow to respond and pledged to “strengthen our approach.” In a video shared on social media, he advocated for measures to prohibit trade in goods from Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law and stressed the need for the UK to be clear in condemning actions in Gaza. At the same time, Burnham condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack and the antisemitic violence that followed in Britain.
The demonstration reflects the ongoing debate within the UK about how best to respond to the conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups, highlighting calls for increased pressure on Israel alongside acknowledgement of the security challenges faced by the region.