Tonight, London’s iconic Tower Bridge faced disruption caused by demonstrators marking the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks. The protestors, amid chants and waving banners, brought movement to a standstill.
Colorful flares illuminated the scene as protestors raised voices with slogans such as “get your hands off Palestine” and “Zionism is a crime,” commemorating the onset of the Gaza war two years ago. Preceding this, a sizable group of university students paraded through central London, culminating in demonstrations outside various universities in the capital.
Dubbed the “Inter-University March,” the event witnessed numerous demonstrators in keffiyehs brandishing signs while protesting outside institutions like King’s College London (KCL) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s call to halt what he deemed as “un-British” protests nationwide on this day, protestors persisted in marking the two-year anniversary since the Hamas attack on October 7 that resulted in casualties and hostages.
Following Israel’s military response, the conflict in Gaza has led to a reported death toll of approximately 67,000 Palestinians by health authorities. A United Nations inquiry commission declared Israel responsible for genocide in Gaza on September 16.
The London march unfolded in a tense atmosphere, intensified by a recent terror incident outside a synagogue. The Evening Standard reported a group obstructing Tower Bridge before gathering for a stationary protest near Downing Street.
Voicing their dissent, activists chanted slogans and sang “Bella ciao” while stationed outside Downing Street. At the gathering near SOAS University, expelled student Haya Adam affirmed the protestors’ determination to persist despite opposition from authorities.
Emily Schrader, an Israeli visitor to the UK, criticized the timing of the demonstrations, emphasizing the need for understanding the complex situation involving both Israelis and Palestinians.
In Manchester, a procession of 500 pro-Palestine supporters traversed the city, while in Sheffield, demonstrators gathered outside the university’s students’ union. Concurrently, a group of protesters entered Queen Mary University in London to disrupt an event affiliated with a British defense company.