UK minister warns pro-Palestinian protesters in London to stay at home

Ross McGuinness
·5 min read
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Workers board up a a building on the corner of a road leading to the Embassy of Israel, in west London on October 9, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Workers board up a building on the corner of a road leading to the Israeli embassy in London on Monday. (AFP via Getty Images)

Protesters thinking of going to the Israeli embassy in London for a demonstration have been urged to stay at home by a government minister.

More than 1,300 people have died on both sides since militant group Hamas launched a surprise wave of attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

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At least 800 people died in Israel following the attack, including 260 who were killed at a music festival close to the Gaza Strip.

Gaza's health ministry said on Monday that at least 511 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory Israeli air strikes.

A demonstration is planned outside the Israeli embassy in London on Monday evening, but government minister Lee Rowley has advised demonstrators to stay at home.

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When is the demonstration and who has organised it?

The protest planned outside the Israeli embassy in London on Monday has been organised by the Stop the War Coalition and is scheduled to begin at 6pm.

Stop the War has previously held demonstrations outside the embassy, with a number already taking place this year.

The campaign group said: "Join us on Monday when we take to the streets to demand Israel end its violent imposition of a system of occupation, apartheid and colonisation over the Palestinian people."

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign will also be protesting outside the Israeli embassy.

What have protesters been advised by the government?

On Monday, local government minister Rowley urged those considering protesting against Israel to stay at home.

He told Sky News: “There is a right to protest. We have to respect the right to protest. I have no idea... why people would do that. We have just seen a clear terrorist attack on Israeli soil.

London, England, UK. 9th Oct, 2023. Minister for Local Government LEE ROWLEY is seen in Westminster during morning media round. (Credit Image: © Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire) EDITORIAL USAGE ONLY! Not for Commercial USAGE!
Minister for local government Lee Rowley advised protesters to stay at home. (Alamy)

“I would encourage people not to go out and to protest in a way that they can. But, ultimately, there is a right to protest, but there is not a right... to glorify terrorism.

“You cannot support proscribed organisations like Hamas within the United Kingdom, and if that’s the case then I would expect police to take action accordingly.

“People shouldn’t break the law. People should also have the decency to recognise that over 1,000 people have died over the weekend in a completely unprovoked attack, and I would be very cautious about what people are doing.”

What have protesters said?

Stop the War vice-chair Chris Nineham told Yahoo News UK: "I don't suppose many people will be interested in a Tory minister's opinion on whether people should protest or not.

"All the same, this is a new level of intrusion into people's liberties from what is already the most authoritarian Tory government in history.

London, UK. 5th July, 2023. Pro-Palestinian activists protest outside the Israeli embassy following Israel's two-day assault on the Jenin refugee camp on 5 July 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed, and dozens of Palestinians injured, during the huge Israeli assault on the refugee camp in the West Bank city of Jenin. The emergency demonstration was called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and partner organisations. Credit: Mark Kerrison/Alamy Live News
Protesters outside the Israeli embassy in London during a protest in July. (File photo: Alamy)

"We will be protesting this evening against decades of occupation and persecution of the Palestinian people by the Israeli state because the only path to peace in the Middle East is for the occupation, the illegal settlements and the serial attacks on Gaza to end."

What have the police said?

The Metropolitan Police said on Sunday it is liaising with the organisers of the protest outside the Israeli embassy.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: "There are a number of protests being planned, including a Stop The War protest due to be held tomorrow, Monday, 9 October, in central London.

"We are in liaison with the organisers of these protests and an appropriate policing plan is in place that balances the right to lawful protest against any disruption to Londoners.

"While officers will be there primarily to ensure protests pass off peacefully, we will make arrests if it is suspected that a criminal offence has been committed."

What is the UK's position?

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said the UK is “one of Israel’s strongest allies”.

He told BBC Radio 2 that the UK would be “fully supportive of Israel and their efforts to defend themselves against what are appalling acts”.

Foreign secretary James Cleverly visited the Israeli embassy on Monday, and later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that: “We will not stay silent as innocent Israelis are murdered by Hamas.

“Terrorism will not prevail. Earlier today I visited the Israeli embassy in London to express this government’s support for Israel.”

Watch: Israeli flag illuminates 10 Downing Street in show of support