In London, 300,000 Stage A Pro-palestinian Rally

300,000 pro-Palestinian supporters marched through London on Saturday in support of a ceasefire in the Gaza war.

Since the "National March for Palestine" was scheduled for Armistice Day, Britain's annual commemoration of its war dead, officials had feared trouble. There were dozens of arrests reported.

At the Cenotaph war memorial in central London, a two-minute silence was observed before the march began.

About 300,000 people are estimated to be participating, according to a police spokesman.

"Stop bombing Gaza" placards were held aloft by protesters waving black, red, white and green Palestinian flags.

Since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed and 239 people were taken hostage, rallies have taken place nearly weekly in London.

In response, the Israeli air and ground campaign has killed more than 11,000 Gazans, according to Hamas' health ministry.

From the London protest, shouts of "free Palestine" and "ceasefire now" could be heard.

Shiraz Bobra, 41, who travelled from Leicester, central England, told AFP, "Forget the political stance, forget everything else. You cannot stand by while people are being killed." According to him, he will continue to come every week until a ceasefire is enforced.

58-year-old Gavin Searle, a television director from Hastings, south England, said he was there "to show solidarity with the Palestinians."

Father John McGowan, a Roman Catholic priest, said he felt for Palestinians, whose land was occupied and whose occupiers were cruel. He hoped a two-state solution could be reached.

Nearly 100 people have been arrested by London police for supporting Hamas during previous pro-Palestinian marches.

In response to public order concerns, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for protesters to act "respectfully and peacefully" on Friday night.

The route from Hyde Park to the US Embassy in south London had been changed to avoid passing any landmark memorials.

A metal barrier has been placed around the area containing the most significant memorials, and an exclusion zone has been created, with police able to arrest anyone who breaches it.

Red poppies, a symbol of remembrance, were worn by thousands at The Cenotaph on Whitehall for a solemn ceremony of reflection. Other services were held across the country.

Police lines were breached by counter-protesters, many wearing black with their faces covered, waving England's St George's flag and Union Jack.

In the nearby Chinatown area, missiles were later thrown at officers, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Later, police said they had arrested 82 counter-protestors to "prevent a breach of the peace", saying they "attempted to reach the main protest march".

In the statement, the agency stated that it would continue to take steps to avoid the disorder that would likely occur if such a situation occurred.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who is leading the police operation, said police would have to use force against "pockets of confrontation" at some point if counter-protesters included football hooligans.

There are about 1,850 police officers, including some brought in from other regions, and 1,375 on Sunday, when King Charles III, senior royals, and politicians will lead a national service of remembrance at The Cenotaph.

Suella Braverman, the home secretary, has done little to quell tensions by accusing police of being more sympathetic to left-wing protests than others.

Palestinian support has been a long-standing policy of the British political left.

This week, ministers called for a ban on the march, sparking concerns about political interference in operational matters.

He said he would hold Met Police commissioner Mark Rowley "accountable" for allowing the demonstration.

According to Rowley, the plan does not meet the threshold for a rare government order to stop it.

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