Thousands march in London

Pro-palestinian protesters demand permanent cease-fire

LONDON — Tens of thousands of people turned out on central London’s streets Saturday for a pro-palestinian march calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

Eighteen people were arrested including at least five people who were detained on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

The National March for Palestine in central London was the latest in several huge protests staged in the British capital and many European cities every weekend since the Israel-hamas war began last month.

Saturday’s protests came on the second day of a four-day cease-fire that has allowed humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after he was spotted carrying a placard with Nazi symbols on it. Four others were detained for distributing “literature featuring a swastika inside a Star of David.”

On Saturday officers handed out leaflets march that sought to clarify what would be deemed a criminal offence, after the force faced pressure from senior government officials to be tougher on alleged displays of antisemitism at the protests.

“Anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organization,” said Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan.

“We will not tolerate anyone who celebrates or promotes acts of terrorism — such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people — or who spreads hate speech,” he added.

The force said 1,500 officers were deployed to police the march.

In Paris, a march staged for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women drew both pro-palestinian and pro-israeli activists as well as other groups.

A group of Jewish women joined the march to denounce crimes committed by Hamas terrorists, including rapes and killings, chanting, “We are women, we are proud, we are Jewish and we are angry.”

Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in a march organized by the Campaign Against Antisemitism charity on Sunday to show solidarity with the Jewish community in the United Kingdom.