National March for Palestine: When is the London protest and what is the route?
Pro-Palestine protesters are set to take to the streets of central London this weekend to mark three years since the start of the war in Gaza.
The National March for Palestine, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will take place on Saturday, October 10.
Around 10,000 protesters are expected to attend the demonstration, which is part of a national callout and will be the first such march in three months.
Organisers are calling for an immediate end to military action in Gaza, a complete halt to UK arms exports to Israel and the introduction of sanctions.
Coaches are being organised from cities across the UK, including Bristol, Manchester and Coventry, to bring demonstrators to central London.
Here’s everything you need to know about the protest.
When will the protest take place
The protest will take place on Saturday, October 10, beginning at midday and finishing at 5pm.
Protesters will gather at Victoria Embankment, with the Trade Union Bloc assembling near Cleopatra's Needle.
The procession will then make its way through central London before concluding with a rally in Whitehall.
What route will protesters take?
Similar to previous marches, protesters will begin assembling at noon near Northumberland Avenue on the Embankment.
The march will make its way from the Embankment towards Westminster Bridge, along the South Bank to Waterloo Bridge and the Strand, before ending with a rally in Whitehall.
A counter-protest by Stop the Hate is also expected.
Has the Metropolitan Police imposed any restrictions on the march?
The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will impose conditions relating to the timing, route and assembly points for Saturday’s march.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said several hundred officers would be deployed, with specific legal conditions under the Public Order Act due to be communicated ahead of the weekend.
“The policing presence on the day is expected to be significant, with several hundred officers involved in ensuring disruption is kept to a minimum and any crime or disorder is dealt with swiftly and robustly,” he said.
“There have been 35 large protests organised by the groups that make up the Palestine Coalition since October 2023. Those taking part all have their own varied motives and allegiances. The majority who attend do so peacefully and do so lawfully, but we have seen arrests from a small minority across these protests for racially and religiously aggravated public order offences, for stirring up racial hatred and for supporting terrorist organisations.”
What are the conditions?
The Metropolitan Police has imposed strict conditions on Saturday’s march under the Public Order Act.
The march, which starts at midday, must travel via Westminster Bridge, York Road, Waterloo Bridge and the Strand onto Whitehall.
The rally at Whitehall must end by 6.30pm, police say.
Protesters must remain in designated areas before the procession begins and follow an agreed route through central London, including Victoria Embankment, Westminster Bridge, York Road, Waterloo Bridge, Strand and Whitehall.
Marchers are prohibited from entering a designated emergency access lane on Westminster Bridge and Westminster Bridge Road.
Speeches and music must end by 5.30pm, with the assembly required to disperse by 6.30pm.
Police have also authorised powers under Section 60AA, allowing officers to require the removal of face coverings where they reasonably believe they are being worn to conceal someone’s identity.
What has the Met Police said about chants and banners?
The Met has also reiterated its approach to chants and wording on banners that officers believe could incite hatred or indicate support for terrorism or other forms of extremism.
“We have arrested and charged individuals for calling for an intifada at protests, with those cases working their way through the courts,” Mr Harman added.
“Our officers will take firm action if when they see or hear antisemitism, anti-Muslim abuse, incitement to violence, language that clearly points to support for terrorists or proscribed groups, for example Palestine Action.
“We will arrest for those offences when we see them at protests and marches in the coming week. We will investigate post-event where necessary.
“And specialist investigators will work at pace to present the cases to the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure those responsible are swiftly put before the courts.”