Police have said protesters projecting a controversial pro-Palestine slogan onto Big Ben was not a crime.
Campaigners projected the words “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” onto the Elizabeth Tower on Wednesday as demonstrators gathered outside the Houses of Parliament during a chaotic crunch vote on a ceasefire in Gaza.
The slogan has previously been branded antisemitic by some for allegedly calling for the destruction of Israel, but pro-Palestinian protesters have contested this definition.
The phrase is often heard at Pro-Palestine marches and spotted written across signs at protests demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
The Met Police has explained the display did not break any law.
Big Ben is lit up just before MPs vote on whether to call for a #CeasefireNOW. 🇵🇸
— PSC (@PSCupdates) February 21, 2024
If MPs don’t vote for a ceasefire in Gaza we won’t vote for them #NoCeasefireNoVote#StopBombimgGaza#StopGazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/pmf7WnmpVz
In a statement, the force said: ‘"This is a chant that has been frequently heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations for many years and we are very aware of the strength of feeling in relation to it.
“While there are scenarios where chanting or using these words could be unlawful depending on the specific location or context, its use in a wider public protest setting, such as last night, is not a criminal offence."
Other messages that were projected on the side of the building included “stop bombs” and “stop bombing Gaza - ceasefire now”.
The police have faced criticism for allowing the London landmark to be used to project the “genocidal” slogan.
Reacting to the protest on Wednesday Conservative MP Andrew Percy, who is Jewish, told the Commons: “For months I’ve been standing up here talking about the people on our streets demanding ‘death to Jews’, demanding Jihad, demanding intifadas as the police stand by and allow that to happen.
“Last night, a genocidal call of ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ was projected onto this building. That message says no Jew is welcome in the state of Israel or in that land. This is going to continue happening because we’re not dealing with it.”
The editor of the Jewish Chronicle, Jake Wallis Simons posted on X: “‘From the river to the sea’ has only one meaning. We all know what it is.
“If you're comfortable with the October 7 atrocities, you'll find that you're comfortable with the slogan. If you're not, then stand up and say so.”
