
There have been regular London demonstrations for Palestine and Gaza and against what has become an Israeli genocide since October 2023. They have been regular not weekly and there has been very little in the way of issues. The Met Police reported 7 arrests on 16th May 2025, one for someone attacking a marcher, and six for what appeared to be, at best, minor infractions of the very restrictive conditions the Met imposes on these occasions.
Of course the right-wing media (which is most of it) and many (but not all) politicians hate the idea of marching for Gaza and vary between ignoring a march and condemning it and trying to get it banned.
In fact the BBC completely ignored the 2025 Nakba march(they have reported at least some previous marches) as did most other print media, aside of course from Socialist Worker and the Morning Star
The 16th May 2025 demonstration marked the 77th anniversary of the 1948 Nakba, Israel’s first attempt to force Palestinians out of their own land and homes. A second Nakba is clearly underway. The marches in London have a particular importance because after the First World War Britain had the mandate for Palestine.
The fact that the marches continue, and May 16th 2025 was one of the biggest, reflect serious grassroots opinion and organisation across the country. They call out Israel’s genocidal actions but they are changing the face of British politics and will continue to do so, from below
History is being made on the streets but as Gil Scott-Heron sang the revolution will not be televised and as Michael Rosen wrote recently the genocide and protests against it won’t be televised in any sustained way either.
Despite an increasingly authoritarian approach to the demonstrations, and political interventions by the Metropolitan Police, the march to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba will go ahead on 16th March 2026 in central London.


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