London protesters say ‘hands off Iran' and its supreme leader
Protesters marched through central London with placards in support of Iran's supreme leader during a heated pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday.
Among thousands of demonstrators waving Palestinian and Iranian flags, men and women were photographed carrying signs featuring Ayatollah Ali Khamenei alongside the message: 'Choose the right side of history.'
Pro-Palestinian marches have taken place almost weekly in cities across the UK since the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
But this was the second consecutive weekend in which the Palestinian flag appeared alongside Iran's red, white and green tricolour at a pro-Gaza demonstration in London.
The usual 'end the genocide' and 'stop arming Israel' banners were joined by those supporting the Iranian regime. 'Free Palestine, hands off Iran,' one banner said.
It comes after Israel began bombing Iran's military and nuclear facilities last Friday, pushing the Middle East to the brink of all-out war.
On Saturday, signs supporting Palestine Action – the activist group ministers are planning to ban as a terrorist organisation after its attack on RAF planes – were largely absent from the protest.
A notable exception was a placard held up by a woman seen walking down Whitehall. The cardboard sign read: 'Support action against Israel' with 'Support Palestine Action' written beneath it in smaller text.
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is preparing a written statement to put before Parliament on Monday, which, if passed, will make becoming a member of Palestine Action illegal.
The move comes after two of the group's members breached security at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to vandalise two of the aircraft.
Palestine Action announced it would stage a mass protest outside Parliament on Monday to oppose its imminent designation as a terror group.
Saturday's pro-Palestinian march began peacefully at Russell Square en route to Whitehall. But as the protest moved onto the Strand, it was met with hundreds of pro-Israeli supporters, triggering a stand-off.
Although the Metropolitan Police had separated the two groups, there was only a gap of about 10 metres between them.
Protesters on both sides threw insults at each other, with some pro-Palestinian protestors breaking through lines to get closer to yell abuse at the pro-Israeli crowds.
And on Lancaster Place, pro-Israeli protesters behind barricades used loudspeakers to taunt the pro-Palestinian marchers.
Pro-Palestinian protesters yelled abuse back at the pro-Israel protesters as police were forced to reinforce lines to keep the crowds apart.
Some protesters broke through lines to wave Palestinian flags or scream abuse at the counter-demonstration, which also included some Iranian dissidents.
Police tackled or grabbed Palestinian protesters who tried to jump the barricades.
Among those at the demonstration on Saturday was Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, who said politicians were seeking to 'turn people who protest against the invasion of Iran or the occupation of Palestine into terrorists'.
Addressing crowds at the National March for Palestine in Whitehall, the Islington North MP said: 'We need to stop the bombing of Gaza, we need to stop the occupation of Gaza.
'I want to see a reconstruction of civilian life in Gaza and the West Bank. I don't want to see the destruction of Iran. I don't want to see the world's arms industries getting even more trillions for weapons of mass destruction.'
'Dogs of war of trying to sell us lies'
Meanwhile, Humza Yousaf, the former Scottish first minister, said the Government was 'abusing' anti-terror laws against pro-Palestine activists.
Addressing crowds at Whitehall, the former SNP leader also accused the 'dogs of war' of 'trying to sell us lies' and compared the current crisis to the run-up to the Iraq war.
Musician Paloma Faith also told pro-Palestine campaigners that those 'who facilitate these crimes against humanity need to be made accountable'.
It comes as Palestine Action called for an 'emergency mobilisation' for Monday at 12pm in response to Government plans to designate it a terrorist organisation.
Palestine Action said the demonstration would 'show that the public stands with Palestine Action' and urged members and supporters to 'mobilise on mass'.
It claimed 35 organisations, including Stop the War Coalition, would take part in the demonstration. 'We are all Palestine Action,' the post said.
On Friday, Palestine Action shared footage of their members' attack on the RAF base. In one video, activists can be seen spraying red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft. One of the planes has previously transported prime ministers and members of the Royal family.
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the incident.
Once proscribed, membership or support of Palestine Action will carry a sentence of up to 14 years in prison, putting it in the same category as Hamas, al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
Founded in 2020 by campaigners Huda Ammori, 31, and Richard Barnard, 51, the group has carried out over 300 acts of trespass, vandalism and property damage, targeting what it calls 'Zionist' institutions, including universities, government buildings, defence contractors, banks and insurers.
Mr Barnard, previously a member of Extinction Rebellion, appeared in court last year accused of encouraging criminal damage and supporting Hamas at rallies. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
The group's campaigns have seen several members arrested or jailed. In August, more than a dozen activists ram-raided the UK headquarters of Elbit Systems Horizon, an Israeli-owned arms firm, with a prison van and attacked police officers with sledgehammers, according to police.
Last year, the group published a manual instructing activists on how to carry out 'an action'.
The pamphlet prompted Chris Philp, who was the policing minister at the time, to warn that they were encouraging protesters to 'smash up businesses'.
Mr Philp is among several politicians urging proscription in the wake of the RAF attack.
'This attack on Britain's military is totally unjustified. They are undermining the very organisation that protects us all,' he said.
'Palestine Action should be pursued, prosecuted and banned for what they have done. In this country, we settle disagreements through debate and democracy, not through acts of vandalism and violence.'
Earlier on Friday, Nigel Farage, Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman and Labour MP David Taylor also called for the group to be banned over its 'illegal' and 'extremist' attack on the RAF base.
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