Title: Around 100,000 Participate in Largest Pro-Palestinian Protest in London

Around 100,000 people took part in a demonstration in support of Palestinians in central London today, Saturday, marching through the British capital to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which has been under bombardment since the attack by Hamas on Israel two weeks ago. The protesters moved through London chanting "Free Palestine" and holding support banners and Palestinian flags before gathering outside 10 Downing Street, the official residence and office of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The police estimated the number of participants in the demonstration, which was titled "National March for Palestine" and organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, to be around 100,000. A woman who declined to share her name told Reuters, "As a Palestinian who wants to return home one day, and as a Palestinian with siblings and family in Gaza, I wish we could do more, but protesting is all we can do right now." Many of the chants and banners included strong anti-Israel slogans, with one protester holding a sign featuring images of Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the statement "Wanted for War Crimes." The police warned before the march that anyone who expressed support for Hamas, which is classified by the UK as a banned terrorist organization, would be subject to arrest, and they would not tolerate any acts classified as hate crimes. The march proceeded peacefully, and there were no immediate reports of any arrests. Figures released yesterday, Friday, showed a 1,353% increase in anti-Semitic crimes this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic crimes rose by 140%. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated during a peace summit in Cairo, "This is a matter that has always stirred emotions, and we are now all witnessing on social media and in our communities how the current situation has become divisive and polarizing."