A campaign group has called on the Met Police not to ‘bow to pressure’ over a pro-Palestine march this weekend.
The police used powers under the Public Order Act to prevent the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) gathering for the start of the march in Portland Place, near BBC Broadcasting House.
In the latest development, former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell submitted an Early Day Motion calling on the Met Police to drop restrictions and allow the march to take place.
A PSC spokesperson said “It is entirely unacceptable for the Metropolitan Police to use public order powers to shield the BBC from democratic scrutiny.”
People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally in central London
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A spokesperson from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said: “The Met is being told by the PSC that their march has to be on a Saturday, it has to be just after Shabbat services, and it has to form up or conclude around the corner to a major central London synagogue.
“In making that absurd argument, the Jewish community is being gaslit by the organisers of the march and their allies, who claim to be incredulous that Jews might be intimidated by people marching the streets, demanding “intifada” and the like, as they usually do.
“To help make their point, they are parading a handful of Jews who say that they support the marches, but this is a well worn tactic that uses a few token Jews in an attempt to override the legitimate concerns of the actual mainstream Jewish community. It is transparently deceitful and shows utter disdain for British Jews.
“These are London’s streets, and they must be made safe again for all Londoners, including Jews. These marchers have had the run of the capital for far too long…The Met has finally drawn a line in the sand, it is the bare minimum and it must stand by it.
“In doing so, the Met has the full support of the Jewish community, including us at CAA. We will be watching closely to see how the day is policed.”
LATEST FROM THE WAR IN GAZA
A counter protest near Piccadilly Circus
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Children’s clothing ion display as people take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally in central London
PA
However, the PSC have since announced plans to reverse the route and end the rally in Portland Place outside the headquarters of the BBC.
They also added the closest synagogue to the BBC is not on the route of the march, and that no evidence of threats to synagogues during any Gaza march has been offered.
A PSC spokesman said: “Recent investigations have exposed widespread anger amongst BBC staff at the skewed nature of its coverage, and its consistent failure to adhere to its own editorial standards, including by dehumanising Palestinians and obscuring the truth of Israel’s crimes against them.
“It is entirely unacceptable for the Metropolitan Police to abuse public order powers to shield the BBC from democratic scrutiny.
“Contrary to the excuse offered by the police, that they have taken this action to prevent potential disruption to a nearby synagogue, the closest synagogue to the BBC is not even on the route of the march.
“As the Metropolitan Police have acknowledged, there has never been any threat to a synagogue attached to any of our marches.
“In fact, every march has been joined by thousands of Jewish people, many in an organised Jewish bloc.
“We are calling on all those who support an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as well as everyone who believes in the democratic right to protest, to join us in London at 12 noon on Saturday, January 18.”
Israel and Hamas are reportedly close to a ceasefire
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The clash over the march comes as negotiators are meeting in Qatar, hoping to finalise details of a plan to end the war in Gaza, after President Joe Biden indicated a ceasefire and hostage release deal was imminent.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told a news conference that talks on the final details were underway and this was the closest point to a deal reached over the past months.
Hamas said the talks had reached the final steps and that it hoped this round of negotiations would lead to a deal. A Palestinian source close to the talks told reporters he expected the deal to be finalised later today if “all goes well.”
An Israeli official talks had reached a critical phase although some details needed to be hammered out: “We are close, we are not there yet.”
A boy walks with a sack of salvaged items through debris at the site of Israeli bombardment on a residential block in Jalaa Street in Gaza City
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Israel launched its assault in Gaza after Hamas-led fighters stormed across its borders on October 7 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies, shattering the myth that the country is invincible.
Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.
Only one ceasefire has been held so far, lasting for a single week in November 2023, during which around half of the hostages, including most women, children and foreign labourers, were freed in return for Palestinian detainees.
Both sides have been committed in principle for months to the prospect of a ceasefire accompanied by a swap of remaining hostages for detainees.
However, all previous talks foundered over the steps that would follow, with Hamas rejecting any deal that stopped short of bringing a permanent end to the war, while Israel said it would not end the war until Hamas is dismantled.
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