Arabic version: احتجاجات ضخمة في لندن تسلط الضوء على انقسام المشاعر العامة

Tens of thousands of people are marching through central London on Saturday for two separate protests: a pro-Palestine demonstration a day after Nakba Day and a far-right rally staged by Tommy Robinson. The Metropolitan Police deployed 4,000 officers, along with additional resources including armored vehicles and drones, marking one of their largest public order operations in years. According to Al Jazeera, police were prepared for potential clashes between the two groups.

By 1200 GMT, police reported 11 arrests linked to various offenses, as they had anticipated a turnout of at least 80,000 attendees, with about 50,000 expected at Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” march and 30,000 at the Nakba Day rally. Authorities imposed strict conditions on both rallies to keep the groups separated, emphasizing the need to prevent any escalation of violence or hate speech.

Crown Prosecution Service director Stephen Parkinson stated that the measures taken were not about limiting free speech but aimed at safeguarding public safety, particularly during heightened tensions. The police operation is expected to cost around £4.5 million ($6 million).

In a significant move, the British government blocked 11 foreign nationals from entering the country to attend the far-right rally, including notable figures from various countries. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the rally’s organizers, accusing them of promoting hatred and division. This comes as Starmer faces pressure within his party following recent electoral losses to the far-right Reform UK.

The Stand Up to Racism group, which organized the pro-Palestine event, aimed to combine their antifascism message with the commemoration of Nakba Day, which recalls the mass expulsion of Palestinians in 1948. The police also announced the use of live facial recognition technology for the first time in managing the protests, further indicating the seriousness of the security measures in place.