Nearly 100,000 people gathered in London on Saturday to demand “an end to the war in Gaza” and express solidarity with the Palestinians, marking two weeks since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The “March for Palestine” in London saw thousands of demonstrators, brandishing Palestinian flags and placards, marching through the Marble Arch district in the city center. Chanting “Free Palestine,” the protesters disrupted traffic, making their voices heard in a powerful display of unity and support.
The conflict escalated following a brutal attack by the Palestinian Islamist group on Israeli territory, resulting in over 1,400 deaths, primarily civilians, as per Israeli authorities. In response, Israel initiated a relentless barrage of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, leading to the loss of more than 4,300 lives, predominantly civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Hamas governs this Palestinian territory.
London’s police, via social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), reported approximately 100,000 protesters by 2:00 PM local time. To ensure public safety during the march, around a thousand officers were deployed.
Mariam Abdul-Ghani, an 18-year-old student with family roots in the Palestinian Territories, voiced her support, stating, “We came to show our support because we cannot stay silent, watch the news, and do nothing.” The rally underscored the global solidarity with the people of Gaza and the urgent call for peace and stability in the region.