Yet Still They March: Protest Leaders Face Backlash Over Saturday's Palestine Demonstration In London - A Day After Ceasefire Agreed

Palestine protesters have faced backlash over plans to hold one of their biggest-ever demonstrations in central London on Saturday - one day after a ceasefire started in the Middle East.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) will bus people into the capital from across the UK to join the march around Westminster and Waterloo from 12pm.

It comes despite the fact that guns fell silent in Gaza on Friday after a peace deal negotiated by US President Donald Trump came into force.

PSC director Ben Jamal said such protests will be held less frequently if the ceasefire holds - but believes it is 'not a viable path to ending decades of apartheid' in Gaza.

'We share the huge relief of Palestinians that a ceasefire is now taking effect,' he said.

'However, we also know that Israel has violated every ceasefire agreement it has ever signed.

'In the last two years we have seen Israel commit a live-streamed genocide in Gaza that has killed at least 67,000 Palestinians, including 20,000 children. And we have seen our governments, Conservative and Labour, continue to arm and politically support Israel.

'We will keep protesting and campaigning all over the UK to end the complicity of our government, public bodies and corporations with Israel’s crimes under international law.'

Saturday's protest has been criticised as pointless in light of the Middle East ceasefire, but organisers say it will continue regardless

Danny Stone, chief executive of Antisemitism Policy Trust, said protests no longer has any legitimate aim - and is likely to become an outlet for antisemitism.

'Everyone has a right to protest, but in this case, the organisers don't appear to know what they're for anymore,' he said.

'They planned a rally while the October 7 terrorist attacks were ongoing, protested in the wake of the antisemitic Manchester terror attack, and have continuously failed to tackle antisemitism in their midst.

'I have no doubt there will be more antisemitism on display this weekend. It is for the British public to judge these behaviours and what the marches now represent.'

Alex Hearn, of Labour Against Antisemitism, said he wants the authorities to crack down harder on demonstrations.

'The Home Secretary says she will crack down on troublemakers, so let's see it,' he said. 'We are sick of seeing anti-Jewish racism paraded on the streets.

'The country has been subjected to these marches week after week - but what are they actually demanding now?

'Our high streets belong to everyone. Hardworking British people shouldn't feel intimidated going about their daily business. It's time to put ordinary Londoners first and make sure our streets are safe for all.'

The PSC is running coaches to tomorrow's protest from Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Dorset, Lincoln, Luton, Newport, Norwich, Nottingham, Peterborough, Pontypridd, Portsmouth and Weston Super Mare.

Organisers have said they expect it to be one of their biggest demonstrations yet.