London protests LIVE: Police out in force as counter-demo held before major pro-Palestine march to Whitehall

The pro-Palestine march is a large demonstration organised by the Palestine Coalition. It is being held in solidarity with Palestinians and to mark the third anniversary of the war in Gaza that followed the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The pro-Israel event is a counter-protest organised by Stop the Hate UK, which opposes messages it says glorify Hamas and supports Jewish rights to protest.

The two demonstrations differ in purpose and location. The pro-Palestine march was due to form on the Embankment before moving to Whitehall for a rally. Stop the Hate UK began gathering outside New Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan Police headquarters. Attendees there waved Israeli flags and held signs including “STOP POLICING JEW HATE!”

Both events are taking place under police conditions. The Metropolitan Police says these measures aim to reduce serious disruption to communities. Officers are policing both protests, and people may be required to remove face coverings if police reasonably believe they conceal identity.

The Metropolitan Police anticipates between 7,000 and 10,000 demonstrators at the pro-Palestine march. That makes it the much larger of the two events described in the article. The march is scheduled to form on the Embankment at midday, then travel through central London to Whitehall for a rally.

The pro-Israel counter-protest is taking place at a different nearby location. It began at about 11am outside New Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan Police headquarters. Images showed people waving Israeli flags and holding placards. The separation of the two gatherings is part of the police operation around the demonstrations.

Large crowds have been reported at the pro-Palestine event, with protesters gathering before the march and later moving through London. The police deployed a large number of officers. Transport was also affected, with ten TfL lines closed, suspended, or delayed ahead of the protests.

The Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on both demonstrations. The stated purpose is to minimise the risk of serious disruption to local communities. The conditions apply to the National March for Palestine and the Stop the Hate counter-protest, so both groups must follow the policing arrangements.

One important condition concerns face coverings. Officers can require anyone wearing one to remove it when they reasonably believe it is being used to conceal the person’s identity. Protesters were warned that refusing could lead to arrest. The police also said there would be zero tolerance for hate crime during the events.

These measures matter because the demonstrations are taking place close together in central London, after clashes at October 7 protests. Police are using a large operation and separate locations to manage crowds, protect communities, and reduce the chance of serious disruption. Transport services have also experienced closures, suspensions, or delays.

Protesters who refuse to remove a face covering may be arrested. The police said officers have the power to require removal when they reasonably believe the covering is being worn to conceal identity. The warning applies to people at both demonstrations.

The article also says there will be zero tolerance for hate crime. In practice, officers may intervene, investigate suspected offences, and arrest people where legal grounds exist. If evidence supports a charge, a case could proceed through the criminal justice system. The article does not specify particular penalties for hate crime.

The police warnings form part of a wider operation after demonstrators clashed at October 7 protests in central London. Officers are present in large numbers and have imposed conditions on both events. The aim is to let people protest while responding quickly to conduct that threatens safety, conceals identity unlawfully, or crosses into criminal behaviour.

The pro-Palestine march is timed to mark the third anniversary of the war in Gaza that followed the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The date gives the demonstration a clear historical and political focus. It connects the current protest with the conflict and its continuing significance for the organisers and participants.

The Palestine Coalition organised the National March for Palestine. Protesters gathered on the Embankment, carried large banners, painted their faces, and marched through central London before a planned rally at Whitehall. Former minister Claudia Webbe also voiced support, saying, “Stop arming Israel.”

The anniversary helps explain why thousands are expected to attend now rather than on an unrelated date. It also helps explain the presence of a counter-protest. Stop the Hate UK says it is responding to what it describes as the glorification of Hamas and defending Jewish people’s right to assemble and protest. Police are managing both events.

The Metropolitan Police is responsible for the policing operation. It imposed conditions on both demonstrations, warned about face coverings, and said a large number of officers would be present. Its stated aim is to minimise serious disruption to communities while responding to hate crime and other risks.

The Palestine Coalition organises the National March for Palestine. Stop the War Coalition protesters were seen at Whitehall Gardens, setting up stalls, merchandise, and placards before the march. Stop the Hate UK organises the pro-Israel counter-protest outside New Scotland Yard. Its supporters waved Israeli flags and demanded that Jewish people’s rights be respected.

These groups create the event’s main structure: organisers bring supporters together, while police manage the competing demonstrations. The gatherings are separated by location and subject to conditions. The arrangement follows clashes at October 7 protests and aims to reduce disruption while allowing both sides to assemble and be heard.

The right to peaceful assembly allows people to gather, demonstrate, and express political views without violence. It is an important democratic freedom, but it is not unlimited. Restrictions can be lawful when they have a clear legal basis, pursue safety or public-order aims, and are proportionate to the risk.

In this case, the Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on both protests. The force said the purpose was to minimise serious disruption to communities. It also said officers could require face coverings to be removed when they reasonably believed those coverings concealed identity. These are examples of police controls over how a protest operates, rather than a complete ban on protest.

Police must balance competing rights and practical risks. They can manage routes, locations, timings, and conduct, and can arrest people where legal grounds exist. The article records separate gathering points, a large police presence, and warnings about hate crime. Those measures aim to preserve assembly while protecting communities and preventing disorder.