London’s Tower Bridge faced disruption as protestors gathered on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, chanting and displaying banners. The demonstrators carried colorful flares and voiced slogans such as “get your hands off Palestine” and “Zionism is a crime” to commemorate two years since the Gaza conflict began. Preceding this, a procession of university students paraded through central London, staging protests outside various universities in the city.
The “Inter-University March” featured numerous protesters wearing keffiyehs and holding up signs outside institutions like King’s College London (KCL) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s calls to halt what he termed “un-British” demonstrations nationwide marking the Hamas attack of October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and 251 individuals being held captive, the protestors persisted.
Following Israel’s military response in Gaza, an estimated 67,000 Palestinians lost their lives, as reported by health authorities. A United Nations commission of inquiry on September 16 concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The London march occurred amidst escalating tensions after Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, carried out a terrorist attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, resulting in two fatalities, prompting calls for peace in the UK. Reports from the Evening Standard indicated a small faction obstructed Tower Bridge before staging a stationary protest near Downing Street, where activists chanted slogans and sang “Bella ciao,” an anti-Nazi and anti-fascist Italian folk song.
Addressing a crowd of over 100 demonstrators near SOAS University, expelled student Haya Adam emphasized the importance of continuing the protest, highlighting the ongoing suffering and injustices faced by Palestinians.
In contrast, Emily Schrader, an Israeli visitor to the UK, criticized the demonstrations held on the anniversary of the October 7 attack as she waved an Israeli flag outside King’s College London. She condemned the timing of the protests, stating they supported Hamas rather than showing solidarity with Palestinians who also suffer under the terror group.
In Manchester, 500 pro-Palestine protesters marched, while in London, individuals disrupted an event supported by British defense firm BAE Systems at Queen Mary University.