Pro-Palestine Protest Held in London Amid October 7 Attacks

As the October 7 attacks unfolded in Israel, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) contacted the Metropolitan Police to plan a protest in London for October 14. This communication occurred at 12:50 PM, just as news of the terrorist attacks and subsequent violence was emerging, prompting widespread outrage from the Jewish community and its advocates. Critics, including leaders from the Community Security Trust and the Jewish Leadership Council, condemned the PSC's decision to proceed with the protest amid ongoing violence, deeming it insensitive and inappropriate. The PSC defended their actions by arguing that Israel's military response to Gaza was already resulting in significant civilian casualties, which justified their call for a protest. The planned demonstration ultimately drew around 30,000 participants in London, alongside similar rallies across the UK, highlighting a continued division in public sentiment regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The PSC maintains that their protests aim to address the root causes of the conflict and advocate for Palestinian rights.