More than 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central London on Saturday, with police making more than 80 arrests as they sought to avert clashes between the marchers and groups opposed to the rally. The pro-Palestinian march drew counter-protesters from far-right groups on Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War One, involving commemorations of Britain\u2019s war dead. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was disrespectful to hold the rally on Armistice Day, and ministers had called for the cancellation of the march \u2014 the biggest so far in a series to show support for the Palestinians and call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Police said there were \u201csignificant numbers\u201d of counter-protesters present in central London, and skirmishes broke out between them and police near the Cenotaph war memorial, close to the Houses of Parliament and in Westminster. Some of the right-wing protesters threw bottles at officers, and police vehicles sped around the city to respond to reports of tensions in the streets. London\u2019s Met Police said later it had made 82 arrests of counter-protesters in a move designed to keep the peace, as far-right groups had tried to get close to the pro-Palestinian rally. Another 10 arrests were made for other offences. \u201cWe will continue to take action to avoid the disorder that would likely take place if that happened,\u201d the force said in a statement on social media. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Scotland\u2019s first minister, Humza Yousaf, blamed the interior minister Suella Braverman for emboldening the far-right after she accused police earlier in the week of favouring \u201cpro-Palestinian mobs\u201d. \u201cThe scenes of disorder we witnessed by the far-right at the Cenotaph are a direct result of the Home Secretary\u2019s words,\u201d Khan said on social media. Large turnout Police said the pro-Palestinian rally had a \u201cvery large\u201d turnout and there had been no incidents related to it so far. They said they would not allow the two groups to meet. \u201cWe will use all the powers and tactics available to us to prevent that from happening,\u201d the police said. As they gathered at the start point, pro-Palestinian protesters could be heard shouting \u201cFrom the river to the sea, Palestine will be free\u201d, a rallying cry which is viewed by many Jews as antisemitic and a call for Israel\u2019s eradication. Others carried banners reading \u201cFree Palestine\u201d, \u201cStop the Massacre\u201d and \u201cStop Bombing Gaza\u201d as they walked along the route of the march, which was due to end at the US Embassy. There has been strong support and sympathy for Israel from Western governments, including Britain\u2019s, and many citizens. The Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with weekly protests in London demanding a ceasefire. Call for ceasefire In Paris, several thousand protesters, including some left-wing lawmakers, marched with pro-Palestinian banners and flags on Saturday afternoon to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Some French leftist politicians have welcomed President Emmanuel Macron\u2019s call this week for a ceasefire, including in an interview with the BBC released late on Friday in which he opposed Israel\u2019s bombing of Gaza. A protest against antisemitism has been called on Sunday by senior French lawmakers. \u201cIt is elementary that as activists or simple citizens, you go out on to the street to support the Palestinian people,\u201d said 85-year-old trade unionist Claude Marill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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