A pro-Palestine protest billed by organisers as one of the largest since war broke out between Hamas and Israel is taking place in central London on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police said it is prepared for a “significant policing presence” to halt clashes with counter-demonstrators amid claims by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) that hundreds of thousands of people will attend.
Thousands of people have gathered in Whitehall before marching to the US embassy in Nine Elms Lane, south-west London.
Activists are holding signs that read “Free Palestine. Exist! Resist! Return!” and “Hands off Gaza”.
During the protest, a 79-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence after allegedly making a Nazi salute towards the counter-protest area.
The protest is being organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, with demonstrators from five other groups expected.
The protest comes after a proposal by President Donald Trump earlier this month for the United States to consider taking ownership of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, a counter-protest by Stop The Hate is taking place at the junction of Grosvenor Road and Vauxhall Bridge, along the march route.
Live coverage ends
19:50 , Josh SalisburyOur live coverage is now ending - thank you for joining us.
For an overview of the day’s events, please visit here.
Eight arrested in total as march ends
19:27 , Josh SalisburyEight people were arrested during Saturday’s pro-Palestine march, police have said.
Officers earlier said that at least one of those was arrested over an alleged Nazi salute towards counter-demonstrators.
In an update, the Met Police said: “The policing operation for today’s protest has concluded.
“There were eight arrests in total, including for public order offences, breaching conditions, criminal damage and support for a proscribed organisation.”
Man arrested after 'Nazi salute' seen at march
17:36 , Josh SalisburyThe Met Police has arrested a 79-year-old man at the pro-Palestine protest over an apparent ‘Nazi salute’ towards counter-protesters.
The force said in a statement: “During this afternoon’s protest, a man was seen to make what appeared to be a Nazi salute towards the counter protest area.
“The man, who is aged 79, was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence. He has been taken to a central London police station.”
Palestine demo 'among largest since war broke out'
15:53 , Josh SalisburyToday’s pro-Palestine demo is among the largest in the UK since the war broke out, organisers the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has said.
A counter-protest by Stop The Hate is also taking place along the route of the march at the junction of Grosvenor Road and Vauxhall Bridge.
The groups were separated by barriers and a marked area protected by police officers to ensure they did not physically come together.
The march is the 24th major pro-Palestine protest in the UK since the October 7 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants which killed some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, with around 250 people held captive.
Speeches take place outside US embassy
15:33 , Josh SalisburySpeeches are now taking place outside the US embassy where pro-Palestinian demonstrators have marched to.
The Met Police said no arrests had yet been made in connection with the march, which passed by a static ‘stop the hate’ counter-demonstration.
The rear of the march has now reached Nine Elms Lane where speeches are taking place. pic.twitter.com/gG5OthjDjQ
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 15, 2025
Video shows "hundreds of thousands" took part in march
14:30 , Will Mata🚨Now: hundreds of thousands marching for Palestine in London 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/tiJFh4LRGZ
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 15, 2025
Protestors reach US embassy
14:23 , Will MataThe PSC march has reached its goal.
Picures as protest moves over Vauxhall Bridge
14:13 , Will Mata
March to rally in Battersea
13:59 , Will MataThe PSC is making its way towards a rally in Battersea.
London March for Palestine - heading to our rally in Battersea pic.twitter.com/QqWlA4S12E
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 15, 2025
Counter protest makes itself heard
13:54 , Will MataThe ‘stop the hate’ counter demonstration is now assembled with members shouting at the Palestine Solidarity march as it moves past.
Groups pass each other as police separate them
13:46 , Will MataThe Palestine Coalition march is passing the Stop the Hate counter protest at the northern end of Vauxhall Bridge.
The groups are separated by barriers with a clear area in between that is protected by officers.
Pictures as march continues
13:37 , Will Mata
Pictures as Palestine march continues
13:24 , Will Mata
Jewish groups also joining Palestine march
13:06 , Will MataJewish groups are now also joining the the pro-Palestine march.
The Jewish bloc getting ready to join the march for Palestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/GYkH9Z5gvz
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 15, 2025
Pictures as Palestine march moves forward
13:04 , Will Mata
Video shows march getting underway
12:59We're underway! London March for Palestine pic.twitter.com/RLiPpDsdTh
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 15, 2025
Protest has now set off
12:51 , Will MataThe Palestine Coalition protest has set off from Whitehall en route to Nine Elms Lane via Millbank and Vauxhall Bridge.
There have been no incidents or arrests at the protest so far.
Stop the War coalition out in force
12:43 , Will MataFounder member and vice chair of Stop the War coalition Chris Nineham has been spotted on the frontline
Pro-Palestine march establishes in Whitehall
12:25 , Will Mata
Counter protest set to gather from half 12 at Vauxhall Bridge
12:19 , Will MataStop the Hate has tweeted its intentions.
Marchers now forming in Whitehall
12:17 , Will MataPeople starting to arrive at Whitehall for the march for Palestine. Join us 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/LeYNL2IuaK
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 15, 2025
We’re forming up for the 24th national march for Palestine!#HandsOffGaza #FreePslestine #StopArmingIsrael pic.twitter.com/sJ0EAhJK2z
— Stop the War (@STWuk) February 15, 2025
Jeremy Corbyn set to join marchers
12:12 , Will MataIslington North MP Jeremy Corbyn is set to be at the march in Whitehall. He tweeted this video:
Join @jeremycorbyn at the March for Palestine on Saturday, 12PM, Whitehall. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/nwxp3VEsyb
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 13, 2025
Both campaigns set to gather
11:59 , Will MataBoth the PSC march and the counter protest are set to gather from midday, their organisers have said.
Fury at Trump
11:46 , Will MataThe PSC has tweeted their anger towards plans of US president Donald Trump to move into Gaza and not neccessarily allow Palestinians back into the enclave.
A tweet read: “Donald Trump want's to ethnically cleanse Gaza. We cannot let him. March for Palestine and call on our government to oppose his plan. Let's make this the biggest march yet.”
March set to begin at 12.30pm
11:27 , Will MataThe Palestine Solidarity Campaign has said the march will begin from 12.30pm.
Crowds are expected to gather in Whitehall from midday.
Join us as we March for Palestine today in London, 1230 from Whitehall to the US Embassy. We march for all our rights, for a world based on justice & equality, not ethnic cleansing & genocide. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/sz44JqnMTy
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 15, 2025
Celebs set to gather for march
11:11 , Will MataRobert Del Naja of Massive Attack, Khalid Abdalla, Maxine Peake and Juliet Stevenson are all among the celebs set to take part in the march on Saturday.
Join Robert Del Naja of @MassiveAttackUK, @khalidabdalla, Maxine Peake, Juliet Stevenson and thousands more at Whitehall, 12PM on Saturday 15 Feb as we march for Palestine. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/bAlpMgg9g1
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 14, 2025
One hour until march begins
11:01 , Will MataPalestine Solidarity Campaign is beginning to get ready for the march, which begins at midday in Whitehall.
We're getting ready to march, for the 24th time since Israel unleashed its genocide, this time to the U.S. Embassy. Join us at Whitehall at 12. pic.twitter.com/aj8m2Yorh7
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) February 15, 2025
Palestine Solidarity Campaign demand end to arming Israel
09:59 , Will MataThe Palestine Solidarity Campaign has said it will be marching to demand an end to arming Israel.
A statement from the campaign read: “As Palestinians continue to face Israel’s genocide, settler-colonialism, military occupation and apartheid, we must continue our campaigning in solidarity with their struggle for freedom. Join us in London us we demand: freedom for Palestine, no to ethnic cleansing, stop arming Israel!”
Protest follows comments made by Donald Trump
08:59 , Will MataThe Palestine Solidarity Campaign is marching after Donald rump said that he thinks the US should take over the Gaza strip.
He has said that Palestinians could be resettled and has not said if they would be allowed back under his plan.
"The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting," Mr Trump said on Thursday.
Significant police operation
08:27 , Will MataThe Met has confirmed details of the policing operation ahead of the protest and counter protest.
There will be a significant policing presence to ensure that while the groups are within sight and sound of each other, they cannot physically come together.
Commander Glen Pavelin, who will oversee this weekend’s policing operation, said: “We have been in touch with the organisers of both protests in the lead up to Saturday and we will have a significant number of officers deployed in the central London boroughs where events will take place.
“Our role is to ensure all those exercising their right to protest can do so without incident and without causing serious disruption to the lives of the wider community.”
Counter protest to organise along the route
08:19 , Will MataA protest organised by Stop the Hate will hold a static counter protest at the junction of Grosvenor Road and Vauxhall Bridge, which is on the route of the PSC march.
The Met has said there will be a significant policing presence “to ensure that, while the groups are within sight and sound of each other, they cannot physically come together”.
Stop the Hate is set to form the rally from noon and must disperse by 3.30pm.
Where are the Palestine Solidarity Campaign marching?
07:36 , Will MataThousands are set to join the event on Saturday, Feburary 15, which will gather from noon, assembling by Whitehall.
“As Palestinians continue to face Israel’s genocide, settler-colonialism, military occupation and apartheid, we must continue our campaigning in solidarity with their struggle for freedom,” a statement reads on the PSC website.
The two-mile route will take in much of the capital’s sights and see the marchers finish at the American base in Nine Elms Lane.
The march will go via Millbank and Vauxhall Bridge, with speakers set to address the crowd once it reaches its climax.
