Police held again crowds of protesters exterior College School London (UCL) on Saturday as Israel-supporting demonstrators faced off with a pro-Palestine crowd.
The counter-protest got here in response to a pro-Palestine encampment that has been set up at the university’s campus in Bloomsbury, London.
UCL college students have pitched tents close to the primary campus constructing to point out their opposition to the establishment’s position on the Israel-Hamas war.
Round 100 Palestine supporters banged drums and waved flags on Saturday whereas chanting “free Palestine” over a megaphone.
They held indicators saying “divest from dying” and “no justice, no peace”. A person talking over a megaphone informed the group to not discuss to police.
They had been confronted by round 50 Israel-supporting demonstrators with a megaphone, chanting: “Terrorist supporters off our streets. Anti-Semites off our streets.”
Each side had been heard calling for a ceasefire.
Greater than 40 Metropolitan Cops had been on the scene with a fleet of marked police autos parked close by. Officers marshalled the crowds on both facet of the highway.
Three males carrying indicators saying “Hamas are terrorists” and holding Israel flags walked throughout the road to face down the Palestine-supporting crowd.
Officers immediately grabbed the men and escorted them again to the alternative facet of the highway. Police had been seen restraining different pro-Israel demonstrators who tried to cross the highway.
Regardless of this, police allowed pro-Palestine activists who had equally crossed the highway, to shout within the faces of the Israel-supporters for a number of minutes. Officers then spoke to the group and requested them to return to their authentic place.
One Israel supporter who was carrying a T-shirt with “sufficient is sufficient” written on it informed The Telegraph: “College campuses have change into threatening and racist locations both in the UK and the US.
“There may be at the moment a local weather of concern and loathing in these locations that I cannot stand. That’s the reason I’m right here, to cease these teams intimidating individuals.”
Sharon, who selected to not give her second title, was demonstrating in assist of Israel. The 47-year-old govt assistant from West London mentioned: “These individuals are overtly supporting Hamas which is definitely a legal offence and they’re calling for Hamas to destroy a complete nation of individuals.
“It’s actually mistaken on each stage and never acceptable. They’re chanting ‘intifada’, which is a name for an rebellion, and ‘Khaybar, Khaybar, ya yahud’, which implies ‘slaughter Jews’. Hamas are bloodthirsty terrorists who need to homicide Jews.”
She added: “Police haven’t been policing the demonstrations which is why we’re right here to assist them establish these criminals. The police merely can’t be bothered. It’s not acceptable.
“That’s why it’s essential to be right here and to point out we aren’t scared, and that we are going to not be bullied.”
When approached by The Telegraph, Palestine supporters refused to talk.
The Metropolitan Police was contacted for remark.
Elsewhere, pro-Palestine protests were staged across the country. Protesters calling for a ceasefire had been seen exterior a Barclays financial institution on Tottenham Court docket Highway, London. They claimed that Barclays is “one of the biggest funders of the arms commerce with Israel”.
Barclays has been contacted for remark. The financial institution has beforehand defined that its investments mirror the shares held by its personal wealth and retail prospects and mentioned it could “stop any relationship with any enterprise the place we noticed proof that it manufactures cluster bombs or elements”.
In Leeds, the same demonstration was held, with footage on social media exhibiting round 100 individuals standing exterior Leeds Artwork Gallery, chanting: “We’re the individuals, we received’t be silenced, cease bombing Gaza now, now, now!”
Professional-Palestine activists additionally disrupted a college students union awards dinner at the University of Leeds on Thursday night time, injuring a safety guard throughout an indication.
It’s understood the safety had been offered by the Leeds College Union, and {that a} feminine worker suffered a minor damage within the disruption.
Footage of the incident emerged on Saturday exhibiting the gang jostling with safety personnel who had been making an attempt to forestall them getting into the occasion.
A spokesperson for the University of Leeds mentioned: “We’re deeply disenchanted that an annual celebration of excellent scholar contribution to College life – held by and for college students – was quickly disrupted by an indication by protesters getting into the occasion.
“Whereas we respect the correct to freedom of expression throughout the legislation, we’ve got communicated clear steerage relating to protests to these at the moment camped on our campus.”
The college mentioned it could be “taking acceptable motion” towards the scholars.