The latest protest comes a day after the UK abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire, which the US vetoed.
Tens of thousands of people converged on the British capital for another weekend of protests, calling for an immediate end to Israel’s attack on Gaza and criticizing its government for failing to vote for a ceasefire. -fire in the besieged enclave.
Protesters marched from London’s Bank Junction to Parliament Square on Saturday, holding signs saying “Ceasefire now”, “End the genocide” and the popular Palestinian slogan: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Many at the march criticized the UK for abstaining from a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to which the US responded. vetoed them.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the vote by invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter, a measure unused for decades, saying that “the people of Gaza are staring into the abyss.”
The article authorizes the Secretary-General to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which, in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
Israel’s war on Gaza has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 17,700 Palestinians – more than 70 percent of them women and children.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition and Friends of Al Aqsa were among the groups that participated in the London rally, which was attended by 100,000 people, according to organizers.
London’s Metropolitan Police said around 40,000 people attended, local media reported.
This is our 6th national march for Palestine and many of us are still demanding a permanent ceasefire now!
London stands alongside #Gaza pic.twitter.com/yrdxTlrbAH– CFP (@PSCupdates) December 9, 2023
The march took place without major incident and under strict conditions set by police, including an exclusion zone to prevent protesters from gathering around the Israeli embassy.
Police, in a statement published on X, said 13 protesters were arrested, mainly for putting up offensive signs. A woman was identified using the police’s specialist Voyager CCTV team and arrested for an alleged offense which took place at a previous protest.
A man carrying a sign “making comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany” was also arrested on suspicion of public order aggravated by racism, police said.
Solidarity protests and marches have taken place in London and cities around the world since the start of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict two months ago.
Last month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacked Interior Minister Suella Braverman, who sparked anger for accusing police of being too lenient on pro-Palestinian protesters and calling the demonstrations “march marches.” hatred.”