Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators are set to converge on London on Saturday, urging Andy Burnham to impose sanctions on Israel.
The protest aims to pressure the government to take decisive action regarding Israel’s operations in Gaza.
The Metropolitan Police has implemented conditions under the Public Order Act to manage the National March for Palestine, organised by the Palestine Coalition, which includes members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).
The march is scheduled to commence in Russell Square at 12.45pm, proceeding through Westminster to Whitehall for speeches, via Holborn and the Strand, and must conclude by 5.30pm. Participants gathering before the demonstration are required to remain in Russell Square until the procession begins and must have departed by 1pm, with all marchers adhering to the specified route.
Peter Leary, PSC deputy director, stated: “On Friday, Andy Burnham was confirmed as the next prime minister. Last week, he had to apologise and admit that the Government got it wrong. We didn’t need him to tell us because we have always known that it was the people, the millions who have steadfastly stood with Palestine, who got it right.”
Mr Leary further urged the Makerfield MP to distance himself from Sir Keir Starmer’s approach, adding: “If he really intends to break with Starmer’s disgraceful legacy, he must start by imposing wide-ranging sanctions against Israel including a full arms embargo and a total ban on all trade that aids or assists Israel’s violations of international law. Mass pressure by our solidarity movement has forced this apology. It is clear that only ongoing action will deliver real change.”
Last week, Mr Burnham acknowledged that “my party didn’t get it right and I am sorry about that,” pledging to “strengthen our approach.”
He criticised the UK’s slow response to calls for a ceasefire and advocated for further sanctions, including “measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements.”
While calling for “clear in our criticism of what has happened in Gaza” and condemning Hamas’s October 7 2023 attack and subsequent antisemitic violence in Britain, he refrained from accusing Israel of perpetrating genocide. Mr Burnham noted “increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed,” but stressed that such determinations were for international courts, not politicians.
Labour’s initial stance on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, particularly its reluctance to demand an immediate ceasefire, drew significant criticism from within the party’s support base, contributing to a notable shift of younger voters towards the Green Party.
