Tens of thousands of protesters march in London for full ceasefire in Gaza

Tens of thousands of protesters marched the streets of London on Saturday, calling for a permanent ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It was the latest large pro-Palestinian demonstration in the British capital since the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel unleashed the latest conflict in the Gaza strip. Protesters, bearing pro-Palestinian signs, marched through central London toward the Houses of Parliament at Westminster, expressing their demand for a comprehensive ceasefire, reported AFP. The demonstrationa was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Stop the War Coalition. In Gaza, a temporary truce was largely observed, with Hamas and the Israeli government releasing prisoners as part of an exchange for hostages held by the opposing side. Hamas fighters snatched around 240 captives when they broke through Gaza’s militarised border with Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities. In response to the attack, Israel initiated a comprehensive military campaign involving air, artillery, and naval bombardment, along with a ground offensive aimed at dismantling Hamas. The toll included nearly 15,000 lives lost, predominantly civilians, including thousands of children, according to the Hamas government in Gaza. The demonstration in London conveyed solidarity with the Palestinians, echoing the sentiment that they are not alone in their struggle. However, London police have made hundreds of arrests for alleged hate crimes since the attack, reported AFP. Showing support for Hamas is an offence in Britain, where the organisation is classified as a terrorist group. With inputs from agencies