Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in central London for a demonstration marking two years of genocide in Gaza
Despite expanded police powers resulting in hundreds of arrests, which are claimed to target activists and limit gatherings based on a political agenda aligned with private interests, hundreds of thousands of people have shown up in support of Palestine two years into the genocide in Gaza.
In early October, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that new powers would be brought in that could ban or restrict protests. She said that while the “right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country”, it must be balanced with “the freedom of their neighbours to live their lives without fear.”
“Large, repeated protests can leave sections of our country, particularly religious communities, feeling unsafe, intimidated and scared to leave their homes,” the Home Secretary said. “This has been particularly evident in relation to the considerable fear within the Jewish community, which has been expressed to me on many occasions in these recent difficult days.”
Slogans used by the pro-Palestinian movement, such as ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ and ‘globalise the intifada’, are accused of calling for violence and antisemitism.
Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,139 people, Israel launched an assault on Gaza that has lasted two years, killing more than 160,000 Palestinians.
Israel’s destruction of infrastructure such as healthcare, housing, schools and its denial of access to crucial resources such as clean water, food, and fuel have resulted in mass starvation and about 90 per cent of the population being displaced.
In September, the United Nations concluded that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza. Chair of the UN Human Rights Commission Navi Pillay stated: “It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.”
A ceasefire between Palestine and Israel, part of Washington’s twenty-point peace plan, has been in effect since October 10. International support for Palestine has surged, igniting mass demonstrations worldwide.
For Yang, a Chinese Marxist, personal responsibility motivated his reason to protest: “I act out of my sense of justice and support those who are also oppressed. I think it’s my responsibility,’’ he said.
“I’m here today because I think justice for the Palestinians is a human cause affecting us all and its resistance against tyranny, illegal wars, and genocide,’’ said Richard Smith. We must be clear that this is a ceasefire and not a peace settlement because the attempt of the deal is to impose governors on the Palestinian people.
“It doesn’t make any steps towards the Palestinian people governing themselves, which is an ambition which all people would aspire to. Apply international law objectively. Drop the double standards, drop the hypocrisy, and work for a world of peace instead of might is right.”
“I’m happy for the people of Palestine,” Katie O’Donnell said. “It’s amazing to see the images of people rejoicing in the streets. I’m sceptical about the longevity of it because I think ultimately the goals of Zionism, US geopolitics, US evangelical Christianity are all fundamentally oriented towards the destruction of the Palestinian state.
“I believe we need to end the occupation and the genocide. The only tool we have to make that happen right now is mass mobilisation and direct action. Turning up on a day like today is an important part of that.”
Alif Hasan, who is originally from Bangladesh, said the protest’s energy was positive but was dampened by a heavy police presence. “Palestine deserves to be free,” he said. “The atmosphere today has been great except for the police presence, which has brought it down a notch.”
Reflecting on the government’s role, Hasan criticised the administration as lacking respect and courage. “They need to have some morals,’’ he added.
Dr Ismail Patel, founder of Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA), a UK-based organisation that has been at the forefront of the Palestinian freedom campaign for 25 years, notes that protesters are balancing the ethical urgency against the individual risks.
“We have been impacted in the means by which we can campaign and lobby. The government has put a lot of restrictions, particularly on the issue of how to protest, when to protest, and where to protest.
“We’ve had numerous people who have been arrested. Many of them have been charged with minor offences. A criminal record impacts their life, work, and livelihood. It undermines the democratic principle of freedom of assembly and speech, and that is very concerning,” Dr Patel told us.
“Despite that, people weigh stopping the genocide against personal harm that they’re likely to suffer as a consequence. People take a principled position and say we want to be counted as being against genocide and will try to bring about a change.
“When a superpower like America acknowledges civil society or the public power, we need to understand that public power emerges from every individual’s action. Individuals coming together at national demonstrations – boycotting, campaigning, lobbying – are making a phenomenal difference, not only impacting Israel’s economy, but their world standing, their legitimacy, and on our own government.”
Dr Patel felt this was especially true following the proscription of Palestine Action: “Symbols of Palestine are being construed as antisemitic or violent. The narrative is to make the pro-Palestinian organisations look as if they are causing the trouble, and therefore should be proscribed.’’
The then Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced a plan to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group on July 1st, after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and sprayed red paint on two aircraft. The House of Commons approved the amendment the next day, voting 385 to 26 in favour. This will be reviewed this month.
The legislative change makes inviting or expressing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action a criminal offence, through chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement urging people to “respect the grief of British Jews” after a terror attack on a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur. Demonstrations went ahead despite pleas from ministers and police to postpone the event.
During a July debate, High Peak Labour MP Jon Pearce said: “I welcome the Government’s swift action in ensuring that that organisation can no longer pose a threat to our security, to our businesses and to the Jewish community.”
Karl, a counter-protester, said pro-Palestinian protesters were antisemitic: “Zionism means a state for the Jewish people. They’re racist. They’ve got a hate in themselves, I don’t know where it comes from. There must be something wrong with education.”
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warns that proscribing Palestine Action raises serious concerns about applying counter-terrorism laws to non-terrorist conduct, risking civil liberties in the UK. Amnesty International UK have criticised the ban on Palestine Action as a disproportionate use of counterterrorism laws.
Richard Burton, Labour MP for Leeds East, said: “People out there view terrorism as meaning heinous acts such as shooting people, blowing people up, assassinating people and other acts of violence. I urge colleagues to consider the consequences for their constituents of proscribing Palestine Action alongside these other groups.”
Dr Patel from the Friends of Al-Aqsa said: “We have a high level of anxiety amongst us. Many organisations, including ours, don’t know what’s going to happen to us.”
Featured image by Clarisse Clemes