- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The Conservative leader also criticised the pro-Palestine demonstrators by calling them sympathisers of Palestinian militant group Hamas.
By: Shubham Ghosh
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday (11) slammed the “violent, wholly unacceptable” scenes by far-right groups who tried to attack a pro-Palestine rally in central London, saying the “despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully”.
The Conservative leader also criticised the pro-Palestine demonstrators by calling them sympathisers of Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“Remembrance weekend is a time for us to come together as a nation and remember those who fought and died for our freedoms. What we have seen today does not defend the honour of our Armed Forces, but utterly disrespects them,” Sunak said in a statement.
Remembrance weekend is a time for us to come together as a nation and remember those who fought and died for our freedoms.
The unacceptable scenes today disrespect their memory. pic.twitter.com/vVyqSB7oi2
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 11, 2023
“That is true for EDL thugs attacking police officers and trespassing on the Cenotaph, and it is true for those singing antisemitic chants and brandishing pro-Hamas signs and clothing on today’s protest. The fear and intimidation in the Jewish Community have experienced over the weekend is deplorable,” the premier added in the statement.
“…All the criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law. That is what I told the Met Police Commissioner on Wednesday, that is what they are accountable for and that is what I expect. I will be meeting the Met Police Commissioner in the coming days,” the statement further read.
London was witnessing tense moments on Saturday as more than 300,000 people joined the pro-Palestine rally on the occasion of Armistice Day. Reports said several of the protesters chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” — a rallying cry that many Jews viewed as antisemitic and a call for the eradication of Israel which is currently locked in a deadly war with the Hamas and the conflict has seen deaths of several thousands, including women and children.
Other protesters were heard chanting and carrying banners reading “Free Palestine” and “Stop Bombing Gaza”.
Far-right groups also gathered to protest against the pro-Palestine demonstration. Skirmishes broke out soon after between them and the police, adding fuel to the ruckus. More than 120 people have been arrested in connection to the incident, Reuters reported.
