Seven people have been arrested in London after a rally in support of Palestine led to violent clashes in Trafalgar Square with bottles and flares thrown at police.
One man allegedly threw a wooden stick at the passing Met van next to Nelson's Column before being chased by officers and detained whilst jumping into a fountain in the square. The arrest sparked a fierce reaction from nearby Palestinian protesters, with a large crowd confronting Met officers by shoving and throwing objects at them, including bottles.
Police confirmed there were also two public order offences and one of criminal damage, as well as several breaches of crowd control measures. Largely peaceful protests took place in many major cities across the UK and Europe on Saturday.
Protesters chanted "Rishi Sunak, shame on you" and "Palestinians of all generations are being killed" as they gathered to show their support for the besieged territory today.
Fireworks were set off at around 1.30pm by a section of pro-Palestinian protestors on Oxford Street and a small scuffle broke out nearby. But other rallies in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool and elsewhere were largely peaceful - and well-attended. In Manchester alone, more than 2,000 people gathered for a two-hour rally to show their support to Gaza.
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The demonstrations come as Palestinians began a mass exodus from the north of Gaza after the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) warned that more than a million people should evacuate towards the south to "save their lives". Israel has targeted Gaza in the wake of attacks by Hamas that have claimed 1,300 Israeli lives. Palestinian authorities say 2,000 people have been killed in Israel's bombing campaign.
Metropolitan Police had warned anyone showing support for Hamas or deviating from the Central London route - along Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square - could face arrest. Gathering outside the BBC headquarters in the heart of London ahead of todayâs march, hundreds shouted pro-Palestine chants, including "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free". The march left this location between 12.30pm and 12.45pm, and eventually reached Downing Street, where some chanted: "Rishi Sunak, shame on you".
Tearful protesters, including some wearing and waving Gaza flags, are gathering with signs and placards with messages, including âEnd Israeli Apartheidâ, âStop Israeli war crimes in Gazaâ and âFree Palestineâ. One woman chanted: "They are killing all generations of Palestinians." She and other protesters shouted: "We are all Palestinian" and "We want sanctions" during the march.
There was heavy security around the BBC building, which has already been daubed with what appears to be red spray paint. There were police officers watching on, as well as private suited security guards in front of the Langham Hotel, opposite Broadcasting House.
One of the demonstrators in Manchester, Hassan Galanni, said: "It is important to be here today, we canât turn a blind eye to what Israel is doing. How can one million people leave their homes in 24 hours. The elderly, the sick, women, children. Children are being bombed. Itâs genocide, a war crime.
"There must be peace in Palestine, but the way Israel is reacting means that will never happen. They are building hatred. The government, the US, the UN, have all got to do something, do all they can to stop the bloodshed."