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Protesters gather with placards and flags during the ‘London Rally For Palestine’ in Trafalgar Square, central London on 4 November 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Thousands
of protesters were expected to join a pro-Palestinian march in London on
Saturday, with city police warning demonstrators that anyone deemed to be
racist would be arrested at the rally.
A
four-day truce agreed between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas
saw the release of 24 Israeli hostages on Friday, but the UK-based Palestine
Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which is organising Saturday’s march, said it was
“only a brief and partial respite for the people of Gaza”.
Hamas
was expected to release 14 more hostages on Saturday, Egyptian security sources
said, and Israel prepared to free 42 Palestinian prisoners on the second day of
the truce.
READ | South African woman among 24 hostages released by Hamas on Friday
PSC
called for a permanent halt to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
“We
want … a permanent ceasefire, which can then lead to a political solution,
and that we’re very, very far away from that and our government should be doing
much more to make sure that happens,” anti-war activist Lindsey German,
who planned to join the rally, told Sky News.
Police
said on Friday more than 1 500 officers would be on duty this weekend to handle
the protest.
ALSO READ | Joy and defiance as Israel frees Palestinian prisoners
“We
are still seeing the cumulative impact of continued protest, increasing
tensions, and rising hate crime,” Ade Adelekan, the Metropolitan Police’s
deputy assistant commissioner said, adding that leaflets would be given to
protesters to warn them of the penalties for racist behaviour.
He added:
This sets out that anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation.
More
than 120 protesters were arrested during a march on Armistice Day earlier this
month, when skirmishes broke out between police and far-right groups who had
gathered to protest against the demonstration.
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