Pro-Palestine and Far-Right Marches Clash

Tens of thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday in two major demonstrations held at the same time — a pro-Palestine rally marking Nakba Day and a far-right march organised by Tommy Robinson.

The UK Metropolitan Police launched one of its largest security operations in recent years, deploying around 4,000 officers along with horses, drones, helicopters, dogs, and armoured vehicles. Authorities estimated that about 50,000 people attended Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally, while around 30,000 joined the pro-Palestine march.

Police said the events were mostly peaceful, although 31 arrests had been made by late afternoon. Strict rules were introduced to keep the two groups apart, and prosecutors warned that offensive signs or chants could lead to criminal charges.

Officials stressed that the measures were intended to prevent hate crimes and maintain public safety rather than limit freedom of speech. For the first time, organisers could also be held legally responsible if invited speakers broke hate speech laws. Live facial recognition technology was also used during the demonstrations.

The British government banned 11 foreign nationals from entering the country to attend the far-right rally. Those reportedly denied entry included several right-wing politicians and activists from Europe and the United States.

At Robinson’s march, many protesters carried British and English flags and expressed concerns about immigration and border control. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned ahead of the protests that anyone causing violence or intimidation would face strict legal action. He also criticised organisers of the far-right rally for promoting “hatred and division.”

Meanwhile, pro-Palestine demonstrators marched in support of Palestinians and called for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza. The rally marked Nakba Day, which commemorates the displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948.

Many participants at the pro-Palestine event spoke about peace, justice, and unity. Some also expressed concern about growing divisions in British society and called for greater understanding and compassion between communities.

The anti-racism organisation Stand Up to Racism joined the pro-Palestine demonstration as part of its campaign against fascism and discrimination.