Major Pro-Palestine Protest in London Leads to Dozens of Arrests

A large pro-Palestine demonstration took place in central London, leading to numerous arrests amid tensions surrounding a newly established ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) organized the rally, which was modified into a stationary event following police limitations that prevented a planned march past the BBC and a nearby synagogue.

After speeches were delivered at the rally, a faction of protesters attempted to march towards Trafalgar Square from Whitehall, where they encountered a line of police officers. The Metropolitan Police reported that demonstrators managed to break through police lines, with some eventually congregating in a corner of the square.

One of the restrictions imposed on the protest was the prohibition of entry into a specific area around Portland Place, a decision influenced by the risk the protest posed to nearby synagogue services on Shabbat. The Met had initially denied enclosing Broadcasting House but later indicated that a coordinated breach was attempted to reach the site in defiance of the agreed conditions. Out of 77 arrests made, 65 were on the basis of breaching police conditions.

The PSC intended to protest alleged bias in the BBC's coverage regarding the conflict. In response to the protests, the Campaign Against Antisemitism criticized the police for not addressing perceived threats to the synagogues and urged law enforcement to confine future protests to static gatherings as a precautionary measure. The PSC has been contacted for further comments.