Caroline TAÏX
Sat, June 21, 2025
AFP
There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas
There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas
BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in London on Saturday calling for an end to the war in Gaza, amid concerns that the Iran-Israel conflict could spark wider regional devastation.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags, donned keffiyeh scarves and carried signs including "Stop arming Israel" and "No war on Iran" as they marched in the sweltering heat in central London.
"It's important to remember that people are suffering in Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now," said 34-year-old Harry Baker, attending his third pro-Palestinian protest.
"I don't have great love for the Iranian regime, but we are now in a dangerous situation," he added.
There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza.
Saturday's march comes amid heightened global tensions as the United States mulls joining Israel's strikes against Iran.
Cries of "Palestine will be free" rang out as protesters carried signs saying "Hands off Gaza" or "Stop starving Gaza".
Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according to UN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade.
Gaza's civil defence agency has reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution sites.
"People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That's where the genocide is happening," said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus.
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in London on Saturday calling for an end to the war in Gaza, amid concerns that the Iran-Israel conflict could spark wider regional devastation.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags, donned keffiyeh scarves and carried signs including "Stop arming Israel" and "No war on Iran" as they marched in the sweltering heat in central London.
"It's important to remember that people are suffering in Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now," said 34-year-old Harry Baker, attending his third pro-Palestinian protest.
"I don't have great love for the Iranian regime, but we are now in a dangerous situation," he added.
There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza.
Saturday's march comes amid heightened global tensions as the United States mulls joining Israel's strikes against Iran.
Cries of "Palestine will be free" rang out as protesters carried signs saying "Hands off Gaza" or "Stop starving Gaza".
Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according to UN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade.
Gaza's civil defence agency has reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution sites.
"People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That's where the genocide is happening," said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus.
"I feel frustrated, angry because of what's happening in Gaza," said 31-year-old data analyst Jose Diaz.
"It's in everyone's eyes. It's still on after so many months," Diaz added.
- 'Scared' -
The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out has reached at least 55,637 people, according to the health ministry.
Israel has denied it is carrying out a genocide and says it aims to wipe out Hamas after 1,219 people were killed in Israel by the Islamist group's October 7, 2023, attack.
A 31-year-old Iranian student who did not want to share her name, told AFP she had family in Iran and was "scared".
"I'm worried about my country. I know the regime is not good but it's still my country. I'm scared," she said.
Tehran said over 400 people have been killed in Iran since Israel launched strikes last week claiming its arch-foe was close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies.
Some 25 people have been killed in Israel, according to official figures.
Meanwhile, British media reported that the UK government was planning to ban a pro-Palestinian campaign group, which on Friday broke into the UK's largest air force base and vandalised two planes.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was planning to begin the process on Monday to proscribe Palestine Action -- effectively designating it a terrorist organisation and making it illegal to join, according to UK media.
Britain has announced sanctions against two Israeli cabinet ministers, suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel and summoned its ambassador over the conduct of the war in Gaza.
It has also urged de-escalation in the Iran-Israel war, while expressing concerns about Tehran's nuclear programme.
ctx-aks/djt
Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators march on Whitehall
Alexander Butler
Sat, June 21, 2025
THE INDEPENDENT
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched towards Whitehall from Russell Square in central London calling for an end to growing conflict in the Middle East.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted “free, free Palestine”, “occupation no more, Israel is a terrorist state” and “stop bombing Iran” on Saturday.
It comes after British foreign secretary David Lammy warned the situation in the Middle East was “perilous” and urged Iran to negotiate with the US.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted ‘free, free Palestine’, ‘occupation no more, Israel is a terrorist state’ and ‘stop bombing Iran’ on Saturday (Jeff Moore/PA Wire)
Many chanted “shame on you” as they walked past dozens of counter-protesters, organised by pro-Israeli group Stop The Hate, near Waterloo Bridge.
At one point, police officers chased a suspect down the Strand and arrested them after a bottle was thrown at the group of counter-protesters.
Mr Lammy flew from Washington to Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday to meet Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi alongside his French and German counterparts.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Lammy told reporters: “It is still clear to me, as President Trump indicated yesterday, that there is a window of within two weeks where we can see a diplomatic solution.”
Urging Iran to “take that off ramp” and talk to the Americans, he said: “We have a window of time. This is perilous and deadly serious.”
Many chanted ‘shame on you’ as they walked past dozens of counter-protesters, organised by pro-Israeli group Stop The Hate, near Waterloo Bridge (EPA)
He added that the US and Europe were pushing for Iran to agree to zero enrichment of uranium as a “starting point” for negotiations.
But Mr Araghchi said Iran would not negotiate with the US as long as Israel continued to carry out airstrikes against the country, and insisted his country’s nuclear programme was entirely peaceful.
The talks followed US president Donald Trump’s announcement that he would delay a decision on joining Israeli strikes against Iran for up to two weeks.
Both sides continued to exchange fire on Friday, with Iranian missiles targeting the city of Haifa while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tel Aviv’s military operation would continue “for as long as it takes”.
The Gaza war was triggered when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 55,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than two million people and causing a hunger crisis.
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