Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters are expected to gather in London on Saturday calling on Andy Burnham, who is set to become the next UK prime minister on Monday, to impose sanctions on Israel.
The Metropolitan Police has set out conditions under the Public Order Act to prevent serious disruption at the National March for Palestine organized by the Palestine Coalition, including members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).
Demonstrators are expected to demand that Burnham’s government takes meaningful action to address Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The Met said the march will begin in Russell Square at 12:45 pm (1145 GMT) and move through Westminster to Whitehall where speeches will take place, via Holborn and the Strand, and must conclude by 5.:30 pm.
Anyone gathering ahead of the demo must remain in Russell Square until the procession starts and they must have left there by 1 pm.
People participating in the march must follow the specified route, police said.
Peter Leary, PSC deputy director, said: “On Friday, Andy Burnham was confirmed as the next prime minister.
“Last week, he had to apologize 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.”
Leary said Burnham wants to distance himself from outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s response to Israel, 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.”
Burnham said last week “my party didn’t get it right and I am sorry about that” as he pledged to “strengthen our approach.”
The Makerfield member of parliament (MP) said the United Kingdom was too slow to call for a ceasefire and should look at further sanctions.
Burnham, in his video posted to social media, called for “measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements.”
He said the UK should be “clear in our criticism of what has happened in Gaza,” while also condemning Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023 and subsequent acts of anti-Semitic violence in Britain.
But he stopped short of accusing Israel of perpetrating a genocide against Palestinians, as some Labour MPs have.
Burnham said there was “increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed,” but added it was ultimately a matter for international courts rather than politicians to determine.
Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, including resisting demands to call for an immediate ceasefire, drew strong criticism from some of the party’s supporters, with the issue driving a significant shift of particularly younger voters towards the Green Party.
