Written by Matthew Lodge
February 18, 2024 09:19, Updated February 18, 2024 09:48
Shocking footage has been released showing the moment pro-Palestinian activists marching through London attacked and shouted abuse at a man who called Hamas terrorists.
The man was holding a placard calling Hamas a “terrorist organization,” and angry demonstrators threw objects at him, and members of the crowd tried to rip the placard out of his hands.
The footage, shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday afternoon, shows several men shouting abuse at a lone counter-protester standing silently behind a fence. .
The man was holding a placard that read, “Don’t attack me!” Do you agree; Hamas is a terrorist organization, is that so? ”
But some pro-Palestinian activists appeared furious, throwing bottles, dirt and other objects at him, and one tried to hit him with a wooden stick.
Others are seen shouting “w****r” at him, along with chants of “Free, Free Palestine”. Some activists can be seen urging people enraged by the signs to leave, and two security guards are also seen trying to defuse tensions.
Thousands of people marched to the Israeli embassy in London, and the Metropolitan Police last night confirmed it had arrested 12 people on suspicion of a range of crimes following the protests.
One woman was arrested holding a placard reading “Long Live the Intifada,” while others were arrested on charges of inciting racial hatred and assaulting emergency workers.
The force said the “overwhelming majority” of participants were peaceful and acted lawfully during the march, which was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Demonstrators gathered south of Park Lane, holding banners calling for a “ceasefire now” and chanting “Free, Free Palestine” before heading to a designated location near the Israeli embassy where the speech was being given.
Speakers included former Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian ambassador to the UK Hussam Zomlot, both of whom called for “justice” for the Palestinian people.
Organizers had said before the demonstration that between 200,000 and 250,000 people were expected to attend.
Just before 6.30pm on Saturday, the Met posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Today’s protest has come to a complete end.”
“Twelve people were arrested for placard-related offenses, assaulting police officers, and refusing to remove face coverings. Fortunately, none of the assaulted officers were seriously injured.” Ta.
“Despite these arrests, the overwhelming majority of those who took part acted peacefully and in full compliance with the law. We are grateful for their cooperation.”
The force had imposed Section 60, 60AA and Section 35 orders giving the police additional powers, but these have been withdrawn and the Met Police said the orders were “no longer needed”. .
Police first arrested a woman on suspicion of supporting a banned organization after they spotted her holding a sign that read “Long Live the Intifada.”
A fight then broke out in which officers were assaulted while arresting a man who had displayed an anti-Semitic banner, and six more people were arrested.
Two more people were arrested after protesters refused to remove their face coverings.
Other demonstrators, including children, held placards declaring things like “I thought Hitler was dead” and “I learned it’s okay to kill children, I fear for my life.”
In addition to the familiar chant: “From the rivers to the sea, Palestine will be free,” there was also a rallying cry: “No more occupation, Israel is a terrorist state.”
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign previously predicted more than 200,000 people would attend the rally, which was supported by the Stop the War coalition and the Socialist Workers newspaper.
Metropolitan Police posted on X that the incident involving a punch-up occurred at Hyde Park Corner.
“A man was seen in the crowd holding an anti-Semitic placard,” the force said. He was arrested for inciting racial hatred.
“Officers entered the scene to arrest him and were assaulted, resulting in the arrest of six people for assaulting emergency workers.
“The other two were arrested for refusing to remove their masks when asked by police officers under section 60AA of the Public Security Act.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the event will start at 1:30 p.m., leaving plenty of time before the synagogue event ends. The procession began at Marble Arch at 1.30pm before heading down Park Lane to Kensington Road, Knightsbridge.
“This is the first time since the October 9 rally that protest organizers have decided to hold a demonstration near the Israeli embassy,” a spokesperson for the force said.
“However, the same exclusion zones that have been in place since mid-October will apply, although demonstrators will be closer to the embassy than they have been in recent months.
“Protesters will be isolated behind a police-managed fence more than 100 meters from the embassy premises. They will not be allowed to enter the areas marked in red on the map below Those who do so may be arrested.”
The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism complained that organizers had advertised a start time of 12:30pm, but police said this was the time for demonstrators to gather and marched for an hour longer. He said he was not allowed to do so.
CAS said, “Demonstration marches in recent weeks have included supporters of Hamas and those openly flaunting anti-Semitic racism, and protesters leaving synagogues have been seen inside the marches.” “I had to walk,” he said.
Saturday’s protest was the second to take place near the Israeli embassy since October 7 last year.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the embassy building on October 9, just two days after the Hamas terrorist attack. Clashes broke out between opposing groups of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators at nearby Kensington High Street station.
It added that there had been no “real risk of serious disruption” in recent demonstrations, nor was it expected today, for the Metropolitan Region to ask the Home Secretary to ban the protests.
The force said all officers were “briefed to be on the lookout for offensive placards and banners” and police teams would monitor the demonstrations with CCTV cameras.
Commander Kyle Gordon, who led the police operation, said before the march: “We want to ensure that protests take place lawfully, that disruption to wider public life is kept to a minimum, and that we are committed to ensuring that London’s communities are well protected.” “We are there to ensure that protests are conducted in a way that takes full account of their cumulative impact.” and those who feel most vulnerable in the current climate.
“The protests we have seen since October have thankfully been largely peaceful and we need to take this into account in our policing efforts.
“We hope the same is true this Saturday.
“Unfortunately, we nevertheless regularly see police officers having to deal with placarding and other hate speech-related crimes.
“We do not want to underestimate the fear this causes or the impact such criminal and unacceptable behavior has on wider community relations.
“We appeal to all those taking part in Saturday’s protests to act within the law and consider the impact their actions have on the safety and security of others. We will take action without hesitation.”
At least 20,000 people have died in the Gaza Strip since Israel launched a military operation there in October in response to an Oct. 7 attack in which militants killed about 1,200 people and took another 250 hostages. 8,663 Palestinians were killed.
Israel has been asked not to send ground troops to Rafah, on the Egyptian border. Many residents of Rafah are now living there after areas close to their homeland were engulfed in fighting.