Several thousand pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday, marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack carried out by Hamas against Israel. The protesters called for an end to Israeli strikes on Gaza and urged stronger international measures.
Participants carried signs bearing messages such as “End the genocide” and “Free Palestine” along a route near the British Parliament. The event, organized by the Palestine Coalition under the banner of the "National March for Palestine," took place three days after the anniversary of the Hamas attack, the deadliest in Israel’s history. That attack resulted in 1,201 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 251 hostages, 44 of whom have died, according to official Israeli figures.
The march also highlighted ongoing tensions following a ceasefire declared a year ago. Although Israel has scaled back its military operations, airstrikes continue on a near-daily basis in Gaza. Since the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that approximately 1,450 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes. The ministry estimates that more than 74,200 people have died in Gaza since the start of Israel’s military offensive in response to the Hamas attack.
Aimee Shalan, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, addressed the demonstration, describing the situation in Gaza as an "ongoing genocide." She criticized Western countries, particularly the United Kingdom, for imposing insufficient sanctions related to settler violence and urged the adoption of comprehensive sanctions against Israel.
Among the demonstrators was 23-year-old Hiba Hassan, a recent graduate, who said she joined the protest to express solidarity with those impacted by the conflict. “Although it is happening in the Middle East, it affects us here now,” she said, calling the situation “extremely dystopian” and warning of its broader consequences.
Another participant, a 32-year-old immigrant from Kosovo who identified himself as Kobe, cited his personal experience of war as motivation for joining the rally. “I want to stand up today and not let history repeat itself,” he said.
Police reported making several arrests during the protest, including a man and a woman carrying placards supporting Palestine Action, an organization that is banned in the UK.
The demonstration reflects ongoing international concern regarding the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the humanitarian toll in Gaza, as calls for ceasefire and more decisive diplomatic action continue.