Pro-Palestine march: 82 far-right protesters arrested as hundreds of thousands rally

The Met Police said officers have faced “unacceptable violence, including people throwing missiles and a metal barrier” at a remembrance event at the Cenotaph,

The police said: “Anyone genuinely wishing to observe the event could do so from behind barriers on the pavement which is open along one entire side of Whitehall. Officers’ efforts are on keeping the road itself clear around the Cenotaph.”

Hundreds of thousands of protesters joined the rally in London today.

What has been a protest characterised by impassioned chanting has just fallen to total silence for two minutes, Tom Watling reports from the front of the march.

Hundreds of thousands of people, stretching from near Battersea Park to Vauxhall station, were suddenly quiet.

Pictures of civilians killed in the last five weeks in Gaza swept across the screens as people silently wiped away tears. Then a round of quiet applause broke out.

Black-Jewish Alliance said there are “over a thousand Jewish on the Jewish bloc today, proudly in our kippot and kefiyeh”.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza as they walked from Hyde Park Corner to the US Embassy in Nine Elms.

A Tory minister has become the first member of the government to condemn the far-right activists.

Science minister George Freeman hit out at the “appalling scenes” of Tommy Robinson and “EDL thugs” marching through London.

But Mr Freeman did not address widespread criticism of home secretary Suella Braverman, who has been accused of whipping up the far-right protesters who descended on London.

Writing on X, he said: “Appalling scenes. Armistice Day is a day of peace.

“Remembrance Sunday is a day of national unity to remember the selfless sacrifice of those who have died for freedom.

“We don’t need Tommy Robinson & the EDL thugs to tell us how to ‘honour’ the fallen or ‘protect’ the Cenotaph.”

Speaking in front of thousands at the march, Mick Lynch of the RMT Union said: “We call for an immediate ceasefire. From Hamas, to Israel, to the settlers.

“We must stop the violence and take the road to peace.

“RMT opposes antisemitism and Islamophobia and stands for respect and toleration of all people.

“We condemn the far right hate merchants and provocateurs like our Home Secretary.”

Tom Watling and Zander Butler report live from the scene:

Husam Zumlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, spoke movingly at the march today as he remembered those who “lost their lives in the war” and those who are “still falling today”.

“Today is a very significant day. Today the UK marks Armistice Day. Today we remember those who lost their lives in war and we remember those who are still falling today.

“Today is a reminder for all of us that our history, our history, is connected, is one. Today is a reminder that it is only once the guns fall silent that peace can be achieved. This is why we are here today. To call for ceasefire.

“There are politicians who want to ban marches like this. This has been described as a hate march.

“A demonstration demanding a ceasefire on armistice day was called a hate march.”

“I look around and see Christian’s, Muslims and Jews. Please applaud our Jewish friends who have been with us throughout.”

Officers arrested dozens of counter-protesters in Tachbrook Street, Pimlico “to prevent a breach of the peace”.

The Met Police said they “will continue to take action to avoid the disorder that would likely take place if that happened”.