LONDON (Dispatches) –
Thousands of people rallied Saturday in central London for a pro-Palestinian protest following police warnings that anyone showing support for the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas could face arrest.
Attendees, who gathered near BBC News’ headquarters through the morning, began a march through the British capital ahead of an afternoon rally near parliament and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street office and residence.
Some displayed Palestinian flags and placards -- bearing slogans including “freedom for Palestine”, “end the massacre” and “sanctions for Israel” -- as they made their way towards the end-point for a series of planned speeches.
“I think all just people around the world, not just in Britain, must stand up and call for this madness (to end),” Ismail Patel, chairman of the Friends of Al-Aqsa campaign, told AFP at the demonstration.
“Otherwise, in the next few days, (we) might see a catastrophe unfolding.”
The rally comes as the occupying regime intensifies its war to destroy Gaza, relentlessly pounding the coastal strip and deploying tens of thousands of troops nearby ahead of a likely ground offensive in the enclave.
Furthermore, thousands of people took to the streets of Times Square in New York City on Friday wearing red, black and green, the colors of the Palestinian flag, shouting their support for Palestinians in lieu of the bombardments Israel is inflicting on the Gaza Strip.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” swarms of people shouted on the already-crowded streets of Times Square on Friday.
Security was packed in what was anticipated to be one of the largest protests in New York City in support of Palestine in the last few days.
In New York City, police officers stood on every corner monitoring the protests and the counter-protests that were to follow.
“Every member of the New York Police Department (NYPD) will be ready and be in uniform tomorrow,” New York Police Department chief of patrol John Chell said on Thursday.