Thousands of protesters waving Palestinian flags and demanding Israel end its military offensive on Gaza marched in London Saturday – while police threatened to arrest anyone showing support for the Hamas terror group.
The marchers holding signs reading “Free Palestine” and “End Genocide” started at Oxford Circus near the world headquarters of BBC News and planned to walk to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official residence in Downing Street.
Protesters lashed out at the US and UK governments for their support for Israel, despite police warning early that anyone with a flag showing support for Hamas or any other terrorist group would be arrested, the Times of Israel reported.
London’s Metropolitan Police Service said it planned to have more than 1,000 officers at the rally.
“I think everyone around the world, not just in Britain, must rise up and call for this madness (to end),” Ismail Patel, chairman of the Friends of Al-Aqsa campaign, said at the demonstration.
“If not, in the next few days, (we) may see a catastrophe unfold.”
Belal Stitan, a 22-year-old student, said he was afraid of his relatives in Gaza.
Demonstrators holding Palestinian flags climb the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus during the ‘March For Palestine’ on Saturday.AFP via Getty Images Thousands marched Saturday holding signs calling for “free Palestine” in London.REUTERS London’s Metropolitan Police Service threatened to arrest people who support Hamas.REUTERS/Toby Melville
“No one in Gaza is OK. My family is all in Gaza and none of them are OK,” he told Reuters.
“This situation is a big, big problem for humanity and for me to say to the world, remember that we are human beings … I can’t believe that we are here.”
Earlier on Saturday, BBC headquarters was daubed with red paint. A group called Palestine Action took responsibility for the incident, denouncing the broadcaster’s coverage as “manufactured approval for Israeli war crimes.”
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The gathering comes as Israel ramps up its offensive on the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas, bombing much of Gaza and deploying tens of thousands of troops nearby ahead of an expected ground offensive in the area.
The BBC’s London headquarters were vandalized by pro-Palestinian protesters.REUTERS Demonstrators show support for Palestinians during a march of thousands Saturday in London.REUTERS People take part in a demonstration in support of Palestine on October 14, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Getty Images The marchers holding signs reading “Free Palestine” and “End Genocide” started at Oxford Circus near the world headquarters of BBC News.James Veysey/Shutterstock
The Israeli attack followed a surprise October 7 attack by Hamas, which deployed hundreds of fighters across the Israeli border where they took hostages and killed more than 1,300 civilians on the streets, in their homes or at raves.
In the UK, anyone found guilty of supporting a terrorist organization banned in Britain faces up to 14 years in prison.
Israeli warplane strikes have reduced entire Gaza neighborhoods to rubble and left people scrambling for safety — carrying out their attacks as Hamas terrorists threaten to execute prisoners for every house hit without warning of impending Israeli bombardment.
with Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
