Pro-Palestinian Marches Proceed in London, Manchester Amid Government, Police Calls to Cancel

Despite calls from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, police chiefs, and other politicians to cancel or postpone pro-Palestinian demonstrations out of respect for British Jews mourning after a recent terror attack at a Manchester synagogue, organisers in London and Manchester have vowed to proceed with their planned protests. The London protest, organized by Defend Our Juries, and the Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine march are both intended to mark two years of conflict in Gaza, with organisers emphasizing that peaceful protest should not be canceled due to terror. Police have expressed concerns about resource allocation and the potential for increased tension, while Jewish student groups have also urged reconsideration of planned campus rallies to avoid stoking further distress. Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, have urged the UK government to oppose these pro-Palestinian protests. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian supporters in Ireland are preparing for a national rally in Dublin to protest ongoing violence in Gaza, marking two years since the Hamas attack on Israel. These demonstrations highlight the tension between the right to protest and the need to respect communal grief and security in the UK and Ireland.