Protests11 October, 20252 min read
Tens of Thousands March in London to Demand End to Israel’s Genocide and Siege of Gaza
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Tens of thousands marched in central London marking two years of Gaza war. Protesters expressed scepticism and cautious hope following Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
9 outlets told this the same way.
London Gaza Protest Rally
Tens of thousands marched through central London to demand an end to Israel’s siege of Gaza. Organizers asserted far higher numbers and protesters tied the rally to a new ceasefire and a longer arc of war. Participants waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans including “From the river to the sea” and “Stop starving Gaza.”
“Tens of thousands of people marched in central London on Saturday to mark two years of the Gaza war and show support for Palestine.”
Some voiced skepticism that the ceasefire would hold, while others emphasized marking what some called the two-year anniversary of the Gaza war. Coverage diverges on scale and framing: some outlets highlight organizers’ claims of up to 500,000, others repeatedly use “tens of thousands.” Several media sources center the march’s connection to the ceasefire’s second day and the continuing humanitarian catastrophe.
Police Response to Protests
Policing loomed large as authorities imposed conditions on routes and gatherings. They separated opposing groups and made arrests ranging from a handful on the day to nearly 500 at a related recent protest. Scotland Yard applied Public Order Act restrictions and is supported by new government plans to expand police powers.
These measures come in response to repeated marches and concerns within the Jewish community. Reports differ on the focus of incidents—some emphasize scuffles and attempts to remove banners. Others highlight mass arrests connected to a banned group and police removing pro-Jewish placards from the crowd.
Perspectives on Gaza March
Ceasefire context and casualty narratives shaped the march’s urgency. Al Jazeera cites over 67,000 deaths in Gaza and a UN commission’s accusations of genocide. Upday reports PSC director Ben Jamal accusing Israel of committing genocide with UK support and calling Israel an apartheid system.
“The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 67,000 deaths in Gaza and a severe humanitarian crisis, including famine conditions and accusations of genocide by a UN commission.”
China Daily links the rally to displaced Palestinians returning north after a recent ceasefire. The Telegraph situates the demonstration after the October 7 attacks that killed over 1,200 Jews, underscoring different emphases on loss and accountability.
Protest and Counter-Protest Events
The day featured tense interactions with counter-protesters and prominent political participation. The Telegraph describes a small counter-protest with “We Stand With Britain’s Jews” placards that police removed. China Daily reports that officers removed some individuals carrying pro-Jewish placards from the predominantly pro-Palestine crowd.
Tottenham Independent covers a counter-protest by Stop The Hate, a small scuffle, several arrests, and appearances by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. The same source also mentions criticism of Keir Starmer.
The Independent and upday add that authorities are considering crackdowns on chants like “from the river to the sea.” Some people call these chants antisemitic, while others defend them as a call for Palestinian freedom.
Protests and Public Reactions
Scale, slogans, and momentum reveal both unity and sharp divides. The Telegraph reports organizers claimed up to 500,000 attendees as crowds chanted “From the river to the sea,” while other outlets estimate tens of thousands. China Daily catalogues chants like “Stop starving Gaza” and provides route details across Westminster bridges.
“The protest began at Victoria Embankment and proceeded through Westminster, crossing several bridges while participants chanted slogans like ‘Stop starving Gaza’ and ‘End the siege.’”
The Independent and Tottenham Independent note this was the 32nd national demonstration since October 2023. Despite a ceasefire, Al Jazeera and upday capture skepticism and vows to continue protesting until the siege and what some call genocide end.
