Pro-Palestine protesters wave ‘Zionists control media’ placards
PRO-PALESTINE protesters waved placards alleging that zionists control the media, as tens of thousands gathered in central London to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.
A number of demonstrators also chanted: “Yemen, Yemen make us proud, turn another ship around”, a reference to the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Multiple banners displaying anti-Semitic tropes were displayed at the march, which began outside BBC headquarters in Portland Place and was due to finish in Whitehall. One declared “the BBC is an arm of the Zionist propaganda machine”, while another stated “Our media, tv, radio and government are controlled by zionists”.
Another protester waved a placard depicting Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, as a pig with devil horns on his head.
Tzipi Hotovely, Israel’s ambassador to the UK, was also depicted with devil horns. Further posters depicted various Jewish and international figures wearing Hitler moustaches.
Police reported two arrests, with one woman detained in Haymarket while attempting to set off a “smoke bomb or flare”, and another for allegedly chanting slogans that could incite racial hatred. The demonstration, the eighth such national march since the Oct 7 Hamas massacre that killed more than 1,300 in Israel, puts the Metropolitan Police under renewed scrutiny for its handling of such events, having previously been criticised by politicians and Jewish representatives for showing a lax approach to policing hate speech.
On Saturday, dozens could be seen chanting for an Intifada Revolution outside the entrance to Downing Street.
Women wearing medical scrubs were also filmed chanting slogans under an Iranian flag.
The flag of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iran-backed militia, was also carried by multiple protesters.
The group is thought to have been hit by the recent US airstrikes in retaliation at the death in a drone attack of three American service personnel in Iraq.
Yesterday’s demonstration was organised by a coalition, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Friends of Al Aqsa, Stop the War Coalition and the Muslim Association of Britain.
It follows a spat with police in which organisers say they were initially prevented from concluding their march outside Whitehall.
The Met eventually gave permission, however they withheld permission for a second stage of the march in Trafalgar Square. Organisers have said that the decision presents a risk to safety.
However, David Ward, Dept Asst Commissioner, said on Thursday that allowing the Trafalgar Square leg “would have caused serious disruption”.
Ahead of the march, the Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Tomorrow, London will once again become a no-go zone for Jews as yet another anti-Israel demonstration takes place.
“How much more must this country endure before proper action is taken.”