Thousands march in London and across Europe in solidarity with Palestinians

On October 10, 2026, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators joined pro-Palestinian marches in London, Berlin, Dublin, Rome, and Zurich to mark three years of war since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Protesters demanded full sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel, citing continued airstrikes that have killed over 1,400 Palestinians despite a year-old ceasefire. Metropolitan Police made 20 arrests in London under public order powers.

Pro-Palestinian march in London

• ▪Organizers stated that 250,000 people attended the National March for Palestine in London on October 10, 2026, organized by the Palestine Coalition.
• ▪On October 10, 2026, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London towards Parliament to mark three years of war in Gaza and demand an end to Israeli military operations.

Policing of London pro-Palestinian march

• ▪London's Metropolitan Police enforced powers under the Public Order Act during the October 10, 2026 demonstration requiring protesters wearing face coverings to remove them.
• ▪London's Metropolitan Police arrested 20 people during the October 10, 2026 march, including individuals displaying placards supporting the banned organization Palestine Action and others for criminal damage.

Counter-demonstration by Stop The Hate UK

• ▪London's Metropolitan Police required the Stop The Hate counter-demonstration on October 10, 2026, to stay within a designated area outside police headquarters and conclude by 2:30 pm.
• ▪The Jewish-led group Stop The Hate UK held a counter-demonstration outside New Scotland Yard in London on October 10, 2026, accusing police of two-tier policing.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations across Europe

• ▪The October 10, 2026 European demonstrations came three days after the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, in which 1,200 to 1,221 people were killed and 251 abducted.
• ▪Pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place across several Italian cities on October 10, 2026, including Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, and Bologna.
• ▪More than 10,000 demonstrators gathered in Dublin on October 10, 2026 for a pro-Palestinian march organized by the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
• ▪In Zurich, Switzerland, around 1,000 demonstrators gathered on October 10, 2026 to protest the war in Gaza and held a minute of silence.
• ▪In Berlin, around 3,500 people joined a pro-Palestinian march organized by United for Palestine between the chancellery and parliament on October 10, 2026, while 1,400 police officers were deployed.

UK Foreign Secretary position and sanctions

• ▪Prior to the October 10, 2026 demonstration, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced sanctions on trade with Israeli West Bank settlements and stated the UK considers the occupation unlawful.
• ▪UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the Commons that settler terrorists supported by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government are committing ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza

• ▪Since October 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed over 74,200 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
• ▪Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed approximately 1,400 to 1,450 Palestinians since the ceasefire was declared a year ago, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Debatable claims

• ▪Western governments should impose a complete arms embargo on Israel
• ▪Metropolitan Police enforcement during London Gaza protests exhibits two-tier policing
• ▪Mandatory removal of face coverings at demonstrations restricts freedom of assembly
• ▪Arresting protesters for carrying Palestine Action placards violates freedom of expression