Hundreds of thousands rally in London to mark 3 years of genocide in Gaza

Pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in London on Saturday to mark the third anniversary of the start of Israel’s genocidal attacks on Gaza, demanding that the government impose a total sanctions regime on Israel. Gathering at Embankment, hundreds of thousands of people marched towards Downing Street, where the prime minister's office is located, to call for an end to the genocide and a full arms embargo on Israel. Carrying Palestinian flags, the crowd held several signs in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Some read: "Israel targets children," "Free Palestine" and "Stop the genocide." They also shouted pro-Palestine slogans, including "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." In a post on US social media company X, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said: "We demand our government sanction the whole state of Israel and implement a full arms embargo." "After 3 years Israel continues to commit genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza," it added. As of 3.40 pm local time (1440GMT), over 250,000 people were on the streets in support of Palestine, the PSC said. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and wounded over 175,000 in Gaza. About 90% of the territory’s infrastructure has been destroyed. Despite an October 2025 ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, Israeli attacks have since killed 1,454 Palestinians and wounded another 5,090, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Metropolitan Police said that, under the conditions imposed by the force, the crowd must follow a route along Victoria Embankment, Westminster Bridge, York Road, Waterloo Bridge and the Strand, onto Whitehall where a rally will take place. It added that several arrests had been made so far including a woman and a man carrying placards they said were "declaring support for the proscribed organisation Palestine Action." Palestine Action was banned on July 5, 2025, under the Terrorism Act after members of the group entered a Royal Air Force base and spray-painted two aircraft, causing £7 million ($9.2 million) in damage, according to police. The decision to ban the group has led to thousands of arrests of people accused of supporting it. A small number of people from a pro-Israeli group also gathered outside New Scotland Yard near the area where pro-Palestine protesters assembled.