Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Monday, Mar 09, 2026

Almost 200,000 people join 'free Palestine' protest in central London

Almost 200,000 people join 'free Palestine' protest in central London

Around 180,000 people joined a march through central London this afternoon in solidarity with Palestine.


Demonstrators assembled hours after a ceasefire was agreed in the wake of 11 days of conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

They congregated at Victoria Embankment before travelling towards Hyde Park.

Protestors holding banners, placards and flags let off green and red coloured smoke as they cried chants including ‘We are all Palestinians’ during the march.

Many wore costumes, masks and face paint while others draped themselves in the Palestinian flag.

Some clambered onto bus stops and lamp posts while others wrote ‘Free Palestine’ on the walls.

The group called out ‘Boris Johnson, shame on you’ when they reached Downing Street.

Around 180,000 people have joined the protests in central London this afternoon

Pro-Palestine demonstrators let off smoke in the colours of the Palestinian flag

The capital became a sea of red, green and black in the march in solidarity with Palestine


Among the organisations involved in the demonstrations are branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop The War Coalition and National Education Union.

A temporary stage was set up in Hyde Park for speeches to be made this afternoon.

Labour’s former Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, told crowds: ‘Yes, a ceasefire has been negotiated and we welcome a ceasefire.

‘But let’s be clear, there will be no ceasefire in our campaign to boycott, disinvest and sanction the Israeli apartheid state.

‘The message is clear; we will not cease our campaign in solidarity until there is justice. So let’s make it clear, no justice, no peace.’

Pro-Palestinian activists demonstrating near Embankment Tube station this afternoon

A protester in stands atop one of the four Landseer Lions in Trafalgar Square, central London, during a march in solidarity with Palestine

Around 180,000 people are estimated to have joined protests to ‘Free Palestine’ in the capital


Crowds responded by cheering and releasing fireworks and coloured smoke.

Protester Muktha Ali, 32, from Harrow, northwest London, said: ‘I’m here because this is now urgent, the Israeli occupation needs to end now, it’s been long enough.

‘Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children have been bombed and murdered, Palestine has to be free.’

Another, named Jake, said: ‘I stand in solidarity with Palestinians, and so should everyone, no matter your nationality.

‘It’s great to see so many people come out in their thousands to support the cause. We will win – our cause will be heard.’

The protest is said to have been largely peaceful although a few people were seen throwing objects at police attempting to split crowds in Hyde Park.

A pro-Palestine activist holds a placards opposite the London Eye

Demonstrators descended on the capital two days after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire

Pro-Palestinian activists voiced opposition to Israeli military action in the Gaza strip


The truce, which was agreed on Thursday evening and came into effect at 2am on Friday morning, ended the fourth Israel-Hamas war in just over a decade.

The ceasefire was praised by both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab.

But it was less than a day before violence erupted after Israeli police stormed the Al-Asqa Mosque shortly after prayers on Friday.

At least 232 Palestinians, including 65 children, were killed during the 11 days of violence, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

Israeli authorities said at least 150 of those killed were militants.

Some 12 people including two children have perished in Israel, according to the country’s medical service.

Celebrities including Idris Elba, Rihanna and model Bella Hadid – whose father is Palestinian – joined growing calls for the bloodshed to end.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory Tightened as Middle East War Triggers Regional Security Alerts
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran It Will Be ‘Biggest Loser’ as Drone Strikes Spread Across Gulf States
Lindsey Graham Urges Saudi Arabia to Join US Effort Against Iran as War Expands
Saudi Crown Prince Holds Strategic Calls With Spanish and Ukrainian Leaders Amid Regional Tensions
Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways Shifts Operations to Saudi Arabia Amid Regional Airspace Disruptions
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Why Jeddah’s Night Race Has Become One of Formula One’s Most Distinctive Events
F1 Leadership Addresses Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Races as Middle East Conflict Raises Safety Concerns
Zelenskyy Offers Saudi Crown Prince Assistance to Counter Iranian Drone Threat
Seventh U.S. Service Member Dies from Injuries After Iranian Strike in Saudi Arabia
Civilian Infrastructure Increasingly Hit as Iran Conflict Expands and Saudi Arabia Reports First Fatalities
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran to Halt Attacks and Signals Potential Retaliation
US Embassy in Riyadh Issues Security Alert Urging Americans to Shelter in Place Amid Regional Attacks
Projectile Strike on Saudi Residential Building Kills Two as Regional Conflict Expands
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran While Expanding Diplomatic Efforts to Contain Widening Middle East War
Iran’s President Rejects U.S. Surrender Demand as Drone and Missile Strikes Hit Gulf States
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drone Swarm Targeting Strategic Shaybah Oil Field
Pakistan Faces Growing Pressure to Balance Ties With Iran and Saudi Arabia as Regional War Intensifies
Middle East Conflict Tests Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision to Transform Saudi Arabia Into a Global Hub
Proposed U.S.–Saudi Nuclear Deal Could Ease Traditional Nonproliferation Requirements
Iran Claims Strike on U.S.-Linked Oil Tanker Near Saudi Waters as Maritime Tensions Escalate
Saudi Arabia Says Air Defences Destroyed 23 Drones and Three Missiles Amid Escalating Regional Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran Against ‘Miscalculation’ After Missile and Drone Attacks Across Gulf
Iranian Missiles Intercepted Across Gulf as Air Defences Activate in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain
U.S. Justice Department Pursues Criminal Cases Against Cuban Officials in New Legal Push
Abrupt Cancellation of U.S. Army Exercise Sparks Speculation Over Possible Middle East Deployment
Saudi Arabia Led OPEC Output Surge Ahead of Iran Strikes, Survey Finds
Cristiano Ronaldo Travels to Spain for Hamstring Treatment After Injury in Saudi Pro League Match
Saudi Aramco Reroutes Oil to Red Sea as Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Hit Gulf Exports
Saudi Arabia Presses Ahead With Economic Diversification Despite Fiscal and External Deficits
Middle East Conflict Puts Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula One Races at Risk
Iran Targets Israeli Diplomatic Site in Bahrain and US Air Base in Qatar as Regional Conflict Expands
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Three Ballistic Missiles Targeting Prince Sultan Air Base
Iran Launches Fresh Missile and Drone Attacks Across Middle East as Regional War Intensifies
Saudi Arabia Opens Direct Communication Channel With Iran in Bid to Prevent Wider Regional War
Saudi Arabia Maintains Strong Fiscal Position Despite Global Uncertainty, Finance Ministry Says
Saudi Arabia Considers Response After Iranian Drone Strike Hits Major Northern Oil Refinery
Saudi Carrier Flynas Plans Limited Flight Resumption to Dubai Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia and UAE Pledge Close Coordination to Secure Oil Supplies for Japan
Middle East Conflict Casts Doubt Over Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula One Races
Iran Rejects Claims of Attacks on Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and Oman
Saudi Arabia Condemns Iranian Strikes Targeting Türkiye and Azerbaijan
Saudi Pro League Orders Clubs to Continue Matches Despite Escalating Regional Conflict
Saudi Arabia Scrambles to Redirect Oil Exports as Gulf Storage Nears Capacity
U.S. Embassy in Riyadh Issues Emergency Security Alert After Drone Strike and Escalating Regional Threats
Iran Expresses Gratitude to Saudi Arabia for Closing Airspace During Escalating Conflict
Saudi Arabia Fears Iranian Strikes Could Target Senior Leaders as Regional War Escalates
Iran Says Its Strikes Target Only U.S. Military Assets and Denies Attacking Saudi Arabia
Drone Strike Hits U.S. Embassy in Riyadh as Middle East Conflict Escalates
Tom Brady’s Saudi Flag Football Event May Shift to U.S. as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Plans
Iran War Strikes Saudi Arabia at a Critical Moment for Its Economic Transformation
×