Sara Menai (in the United Kingdom) with AFP / Photo credits: RASID NECATI ASLIM / ANADOLU / ANADOLU VIA AFP
Thousands of people marched in London on Saturday to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, after just over five months of a devastating war between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory. A new demonstration which worries the authorities in the face of the increase in anti-Semitic acts in the United Kingdom.
Nearly 200,000 people marched again on Saturday in the streets of London to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. Starting from Hyde Park Corner, in the center of the capital, the demonstrators responded to the call of the “Palestine Solidarity Campaign” group. In the procession and under a sea of Palestinian flags, some sang the slogan “Free, free Palestine” and denounced the more than 30,000 deaths caused by Israeli strikes, according to the authorities of the Islamist movement Hamas.
A pro-Palestinian demonstration which also disturbs and worries the authorities. Since October 7, thousands of people march for Palestine every weekend. While some emphasize freedom of expression, others, on the other hand, denounce an environment hostile to the Jewish community.
No-go zones in London?
In a climate where anti-Semitism is experiencing a resurgence in the United Kingdom, the British capital has even become a “no-go zone” on weekends, as stated by Robin Simcox, advisor to the British government on the fight against anti-Semitism. ‘extremism. He believes that people of the Jewish faith would avoid going to the center of the British capital on weekends for fear of anti-Semitic acts.
More than 4,000 anti-Semitic acts recorded in 2023
An idea shared by part of the conservative majority in power, such as MP Paul Scully. “In all protests, there are disruptive elements, especially at the moment. Some people feel uncomfortable, but we don’t talk about that kind of thing. If we continue to say that everything is rosy, we “We won’t move forward,” he says.
In 2023, more than 4,000 anti-Semitic acts were committed in the United Kingdom, an increase of 147% compared to 2022.