Thousands Protest in London for the Security and Rights of Palestinians in Gaza

Thousands Protest in London for the Security and Rights of Palestinians in Gaza

Following the release of three Israeli captives by Hamas, thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters have protested in London against former U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza plan.

On Saturday, several thousand people marched from Whitehall in central London to the U.S. embassy in Nine Elms. They waved Palestinian flags and carried placards with slogans like "Hands off Gaza." Other banners read "Stand up to Trump" and "Mr. Trump, Canada is not your 51st state, Gaza is not your 52nd."

According to Trump's proposal, the United States plans to rebuild the Gaza Strip as the "Riviera of the Middle East," which has drawn widespread global condemnation. His plan suggests resettling Palestinians elsewhere with no plan for their return.

87-year-old Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos commented, "This is completely immoral, illegal, impractical, and absurd. You simply cannot deport two million people, especially when neighboring countries have already said they will not accept them because it would destabilize their countries."

The march, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), was the 24th major pro-Palestinian protest in London since October 7, 2023.

A heavy police presence was deployed to keep protesters away from a counter-march called "Stop the Hate," where participants held Israeli flags.

Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of at least 1,100 people, and approximately 240 were taken captive. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed over 48,239 people, and 111,676 people have been wounded. The official death toll has now reached at least 61,709, with thousands still missing under the rubble, presumed dead.

On Saturday morning, Hamas completed a new prisoner swap, releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for captives. This marked the latest fragile component of a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Hamas issued a statement saying, "By releasing the enemy prisoners, we send a clear message that the only way to free them is through negotiations and adhering to the terms of the ceasefire agreement."