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A march calling for the return of Israeli hostages was disrupted outside Downing Street when it collided with a small group of pro\u2011Palestine activists, witnesses and organisers said. The disturbances \u2014 including at least one detention \u2014 came after an unprecedented police operation in Westminster that saw more than 500 arrests, highlighting the fraught mix of grief, diplomacy and policing around the Gaza crisis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Clashes flared outside Downing Street on Sunday as a march demanding the release of Israeli hostages collided with a small group of pro\u2011Palestine activists, leaving at least one man detained after witnesses said he was grabbed by the throat. The march, which saw demonstrators calling for the immediate return of people seized in the October 7 attacks, pressed police to separate the rival groups as officers moved in to restore order. Organisers had described the event as a humanitarian rally, but the night\u2019s disruptions underscored the combustible mix of emotion and politics surrounding the Gaza crisis.<\/p>\n
The demonstration, billed as a \u201cnational march for the hostages,\u201d was organised by Stop the Hate UK alongside Jewish groups and included relatives of people still unaccounted for in Gaza, such as Noga Guttman. Families and supporters carried Israeli flags, yellow ribbons and portraits of captives while urging the UK government to step up diplomatic pressure on states with ties to Hamas. News agencies noted that the march\u2019s stated position was unequivocal: hostages must be freed before any move toward recognizing a Palestinian state. <\/p>\n
The rally followed a day of sweeping arrests at a large pro\u2011Palestine protest in Westminster. Police conducted an unprecedented operation on Saturday, detaining more than 500 people after many displayed placards backing Palestine Action, the group proscribed by the government last month. The Metropolitan Police said most arrests fell under the Terrorism Act for supporting a proscribed organisation, with a smaller number for other offences. The scale of arrests, and the age profile of many detainees who were reported to be pensioners, sparked controversy and fierce political debate about policing and legal responses. <\/p>\n
Speeches at the Downing Street gathering blended personal testimony with political critique. The UK\u2019s Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis addressed the crowd, urging world leaders to secure the hostages\u2019 return and warning that recognizing a Palestinian state while captives remained would be \u201cunconscionable.\u201d Relatives of the missing spoke of ongoing suffering and urged the government to use every lever available to bring people home.<\/p>\n
Attendees conveyed a mix of grief and urgency. One relative said lives were at immediate risk and more decisive actions were needed; others called for peace but insisted that freeing hostages must take priority over political gestures. Several participants described the event as peaceful until the interruptions by counter\u2011demonstrators, while others captured brief skirmishes and confrontations. Reporters noted visible emotional strain among families and supporters as stewards and police worked to keep the groups apart.<\/p>\n
Police moved to remove counter\u2011protesters and warned others they would face arrest if they continued to disrupt the march, with at least one person detained near Downing Street. Officers said they were prepared for disorder following the prior day\u2019s policing operation, and some attendees described a tense atmosphere as stewards and police maintained distance between the two sides.<\/p>\n
Numbers regarding hostages unaccounted for varied across outlets, with around 50 cited, about 20 of whom were thought to be alive. Families at the march referenced these figures as they pressed for urgent diplomatic action. Marchers urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to escalate pressure, especially on states that keep channels open with Hamas, and some speakers argued that recent discussions about recognition could undermine progress toward securing releases.<\/p>\n
The events in central London highlighted the fraught intersection between a humanitarian appeal and a broader, highly polarised debate over Gaza, Palestinian statehood and the proscription of activist groups. Police said weekend operations aimed to protect public safety and enforce measures against support for proscribed organisations; critics argued the response raised questions about civil liberties and the handling of highly charged protest. For now, families and campaigners continue to press for immediate, unconditional steps to bring remaining hostages home.<\/p>\n
Reaction from the Opposition: Reform UK has argued that the government\u2019s approach in London and on the international stage has been too cautious and headline\u2011driven, sacrificing security and decisive action for political optics. A spokesperson for Reform UK said: \u201cWhen hostages\u2019 lives are in the balance, leadership must be unequivocal. Prioritise safety, clamp down on states that enable Hamas, and stop the soft\u2011pedal diplomacy that leaves hostages\u2019 families waiting in vain.\u201d The party has signalled it would push for tougher measures and clearer declarations of where Britain stands, accusing Labour of wavering on security and foreign policy at a critical moment. The weekend\u2019s scenes, they suggest, are exactly why a tougher, more explicit approach is needed to protect civilians and uphold national sovereignty.<\/p>\n