Protestors were met with a heavy police presence. (Image: Jeff Moore/PA Wire)
Eight people have been arrested at a pro-Palestine rally in central London, just hours after a long-awaited ceasefire deal was reached between and Hamas.
Hundreds gathered in the capital amid a heavy police presence on Saturday. A man was arrested on suspicion of holding a placard suggesting support for banned organisations, while four people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and three others on suspicion of breaching conditions put in place for the protest.
‘s government approved the ceasefire and hostage release deal on Friday, and it is set to take effect on Sunday.
The deal includes a six-week initial ceasefire phase, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the release of hostages held by Hamas and the release of Palestinian detainees held by , Reuters reports.
One of the conditions today’s protest prevents anyone involved from entering a specific area around Portland Place.
:
Today in London.
— Aida S (@aidasadun)
Protesters held signs that read “Gaza. Stop the massacre” and “Stop arming ”, with a large group of people having marched from Trafalgar Square holding a banner that said “Labour, , . You show ’s crimes but hide ’s. Why?”
The Met denied putting a “ring of steel” around Broadcasting House as the force said officers would be posted nearby after preventing plans by protesters targeting the to gather in Portland Place.
The force blocked the march from gathering there due to Broadcasting House’s close proximity to a synagogue and the risk the protest could cause “serious disruption” to the Jewish holy day, as congregants attend Shabbat services.
The protest was adjusted to be a static rally in Whitehall instead.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said ahead of the rally that more than 1,100 officers were due to be deployed, with 200 coming from other forces.
[REPORT]
Demonstrators in central London today. (Image: Jeff Moore/PA Wire)
He denied that the Met was putting a ring of steel around Broadcasting House, saying he would instead describe it as “a visible presence of officers in and around the /Portland Place area and surrounding streets”.
On Thursday, senior Conservative MP Bob Blackman said those who defy police orders by deliberately gathering outside a synagogue should face the “full force of the law”.
The PSC described the Met’s conditions as “repressive” and called for the force to lift them.
In a statement, Campaign Against Antisemitism claimed pro-Palestine marches posed a “threat” to synagogues.
A spokesperson said: “It is shameful that the Met has refused to act on that threat all this time and is mustering a show of strength only now that it appears that the war might be ending.
“The least that it can do is see this tokenistic gesture through and finally limit these marches to static protests, as we have been urging for over a year.”
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story. For the latest news and breaking news visit: Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Follow our social media accounts here on and @daily_express