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Pro-Palestine Protesters in London Don't Know There is a Ceasefire | WATCH

Organizers estimated the crowd at around 500,000, with protesters waving Palestinian flags, chanting antisemitic slogans like "Stop the genocide in Gaza" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," and carrying placards demanding freedom and statehood. 

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Hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators flooded the streets of central London on Saturday, marking the 32nd national protest since the Israel-Hamas war erupted two years ago.

Organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and allied groups including Stop the War, the march called for an end to UK arms sales to Israel, accountability for alleged genocide and apartheid, and a pathway to "lasting justice" for Palestinians (whatever that means).

The event unfolded just a day after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect, bringing a mix of relief and skepticism among participants.

The march began at Victoria Embankment around noon, proceeding through key landmarks including Westminster Bridge under strict conditions imposed by the Metropolitan Police, who deployed over 1,500 officers to manage the event and separate it from a smaller group of counter-protesters.

A dispersal order was set for 5:30 p.m., and police reported a small number of arrests.

Participants expressed cautious optimism about the truce, which followed Hamas's agreement to release remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but voiced concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan, which they argued fails to address underlying issues like Israel's "system of apartheid."

While the main rally focused on non-violent demands for peace and accountability, some chants, including "death to the IDF," drew sharp criticism from pro-Israel groups and figures who accused elements of the crowd of undermining the fragile ceasefire and glorifying violence.

A fringe group within the march advocated for military intervention, prompting backlash from counter-protesters holding signs like "We stand with Britain’s Jews" and warnings from Jewish community leaders about rising antisemitism.

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One attendee from a pro-Israel organization was removed by police for safety amid the larger crowd.

Critics, including some Conservative MPs, argued the march was "un-British" and risked escalating tensions, echoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's earlier pleas to postpone similar events on sensitive anniversaries.

It's unclear why they insist on protesting given that there is a real ceasefire already in place, but maybe they didn't hear about it yet.

The PSC vowed to continue campaigning, stating, "We'll stay on the streets till Palestine is free."

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