Home Sports London protests LIVE: Thousands join pro-Palestine rally and Women’s March as Gaza ceasefire to begin

London protests LIVE: Thousands join pro-Palestine rally and Women’s March as Gaza ceasefire to begin

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A protester holds a banner as people gather for a demonstration in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (REUTERS)

Thousands of protesters will take to the streets of central London today as A pro-Palestine demonstration and march in solidarity with oppressed women. are celebrated all over the world.

The demonstration organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) will take place in Whitehall from midday as a fixed demonstration after the dispute with the Metropolitan Police over its route.

The protesters attacking the BBC planned to gather in Portland Place before marching towards Whitehall, but the Met blocked planned route after Concerns about proximity to a synagogue.. A police presence of more than 1,000 officers has been promised to ensure that no one violates the conditions imposed for the protest.

The London Women’s March They will meet at the main entrance to Waterloo at 12pm, before heading towards Old Palace Yard, opposite the Houses of Parliament.

The news comes as Israel’s cabinet approved Gaza ceasefire agreement That would end the fighting and free dozens of hostages held by militants, along with Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Scroll down for the latest updates on the protests.

Hundreds of people now gathered in Whitehall

12:53 , Will Mata

Hundreds of people have begun gathering in Whitehall for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest.

There is a heavy police presence, and protesters hold signs that read “Gaza. Stop the massacre” and “Stop arming Israel.”

A large group of people marched from Trafalgar Square holding a banner that read: “Labour, Conservatives, BBC. They show Russia’s crimes but hide Israel’s. Why?”

A protester holds a banner as people gather for a demonstration in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (REUTERS)

The London Women’s March is also underway

13:05 , Will Mata

Meanwhile, in nearby Waterloo, a crowd estimated at 1,000 people have started the London Women’s March.

Our reporter Chloe Cobham at the scene described the crowd as “mostly women” and sharing “positive vibes.”

The march will now head towards the old courtyard of the Palace, in front of the Houses of Parliament.

More images as crowds now gather in force

12:57 , Will Mata

People pray during the demonstration (REUTERS)

People pray during the demonstration (REUTERS)

Protesters hold a Palestinian flag (REUTERS)

Protesters hold a Palestinian flag (REUTERS)

Protesters attend a demonstration in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (REUTERS)

Protesters attend a demonstration in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (REUTERS)

A protester holds a banner as people gather for a demonstration in support of the Palestinians (REUTERS)

A protester holds a banner as people gather for a demonstration in support of the Palestinians (REUTERS)

Women lying on the ground by police

12:50 , Will Mata

A woman was knocked to the ground as a group of police officers appeared to be arresting her during the Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest in Whitehall, central London.

A large crowd surrounded the officers shouting “you are a disgrace”, “what a shame” and “let her go”.

A small scuffle broke out as police tried to remove the protesters.

Officers then took the woman behind barriers as protesters continued chanting “let her go.”

Masked protester taken away by police

12:50 , Will Mata

A masked protester wearing a Celtic football tracksuit was handcuffed by police and escorted away from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest in Whitehall, central London.

A large group followed him shouting with megaphones: “let him go.”

Photos: The protest begins in London

11:49 , Will Mata

A protester holds a Palestinian flag in front of police officers on the day of a demonstration in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (REUTERS)

A protester holds a Palestinian flag in front of police officers on the day of a demonstration in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (REUTERS)

A protester carries a banner (REUTERS)

A protester carries a banner (REUTERS)

People attend a demonstration in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (REUTERS)

People attend a demonstration in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (REUTERS)

Protesters hold a banner on the day of a demonstration (REUTERS)

Protesters hold a banner on the day of a demonstration (REUTERS)

Significant police presence established

10:52 , Will Mata

The Met has established a “significant” police presence around Portland Place ahead of the static protest.

The force has tweeted the parameter within which protests are allowed.

“There is a condition preventing anyone involved in the PSC protest from entering a defined area around Portland Place.

“Officers have been deployed since early this morning to ensure that condition is not breached.”

Full story: Gaza ceasefire to begin Sunday as Israel approves deal

10:36 , Will Mata

The Israeli government approved a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal to release dozens of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, halting the 15-month war with Hamas for six weeks.

The ceasefire, announced by mediators in Qatar and the United States on Wednesday, was confirmed last night by the Israeli government and will begin on Sunday.

Under the agreement, 33 of the 98 hostages held by Hamas will be released over the course of six weeks. About half of the hostages are believed to be alive. The remaining hostages will be released in a second phase, which will be negotiated during the initial ceasefire.

In exchange, between 990 and 1,650 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be released, depending on the number of hostages released.

Michael Howie has the full story here.

Israel’s full cabinet approves ceasefire agreement and release of hostages in Gaza

09:39 , Will Mata

Israel’s Cabinet approved the Gaza ceasefire deal that would end fighting and free dozens of hostages held by militants, along with Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The approval came early Saturday after a marathon session of the full Cabinet. The prime minister’s office has said that once the deal is approved, the ceasefire could begin as early as Sunday with the release of the first hostages. This would be only the second ceasefire achieved in 15 months of war.

Under the deal, 33 hostages will be freed over the next six weeks, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The remaining hostages, including male soldiers, will be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first. The Hamas militant group has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.

Woman arrested for inciting others to disturb public order

09:37 , Will Mata

The Metropolitan Police have said a woman had been arrested for inciting others to breach the force’s restrictions.

The 61-year-old woman was arrested Friday on suspicion of inciting others to violate conditions of the Public Order Act after she was allegedly overheard at a demonstration on Jan. 10 encouraging other protesters to do so, police said.

The Met said further investigations are underway into other allegations of inciting people to breach conditions.

Police promise “visible presence”

09:02 , Will Mata

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said more than 1,100 officers will be deployed on Saturday, 200 of them from other forces.

Asked if the Met was putting a ring of steel around Broadcasting House, he said: “I wouldn’t describe it as a ring of steel.

“What I would describe is a visible presence of officers in and around the BBC/Portland Place area and surrounding streets.

“First and foremost, their role is to interact with people, make sure they understand the conditions that exist there, and generally carry out their policing duties as they would do every day.

“If anyone is considering violating those conditions, we have brought in officers from other forces, eight more forces, to assist, so we have significant forces to enforce any breach of the conditions.”

Pro-Palestine march replaced by static demonstration

08:12 , Will Mata

The planned pro-Palestine march in central London has been replaced by a static protest in Whitehall.

A bitter dispute had previously broken out between the Metropolitan Police and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) over proposals for the large pro-Palestine march to take place outside the BBC headquarters in Portland Place, with the force insisting that a protest There he would run the risk of “serious problems.” riots” at a nearby synagogue.

Police had been in talks with the PSC and community groups for weeks about plans for a march from Portland Place to Whitehall.

The force used powers under the Public Order Act to prevent the demonstration from gathering in the area.

The PSC now plans to hold the static demonstration in Whitehall, calling conditions at the Met “repressive”.

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