London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 19, 2025

Tensions Rise Over Planned Pro-Palestinian March in London

Debate Intensifies as Metropolitan Police and Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Potential Disruptions Near Synagogue
London is bracing for a potentially contentious protest as pro-Palestinian demonstrators plan to march from the BBC's headquarters in Portland Place on January 18.

The planned route has ignited a row with the Metropolitan Police and has drawn broad political concern due to its proximity to the Central Synagogue.

The Metropolitan Police has expressed concerns about 'serious disruption' to the synagogue, particularly given that the march is set to take place on a Saturday, coinciding with Shabbat, the Jewish holy day.

The force has indicated it may invoke the Public Order Act to impose conditions on the route if demonstrators proceed with the planned march from Portland Place.

The proposed march has mobilized opposition from across the political spectrum.

A letter opposing the march, signed by at least 83 Members of Parliament from Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat parties, calls on the Metropolitan Police to ensure the march does not disrupt the local Jewish community.

'Members of the congregation at Central and other London synagogues have suffered massive disruption to their Shabbat services from marches taking place on Saturdays for more than a year,' the letter detailed, highlighting concerns of intimidation faced by Jewish families.

In response, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that there had been extensive engagement with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in the lead-up to the protest.

'We have shared with the PSC that a protest forming up so close to that synagogue on a Saturday...

risks causing serious disruption,' the statement read.

This sentiment echoed the concerns of several Jewish Londoners, who reportedly have had to alter their plans and avoid parts of central London due to similar protests.

Despite these appeals, the PSC has criticized the Metropolitan Police’s stance, accusing the authorities of attempting to suppress their right to protest.

'We utterly condemn this attempt to use repressive powers to prevent our planned protest at the BBC,' the group stated.

They have expressed disappointment over what they see as a breach of a prior agreement, asserting their commitment to campaigning against Israel’s policies and actions.

As the date of the protest approaches, all eyes are on whether the PSC will modify its plans or if the march will proceed as initially announced, setting the stage for a potential clash with law enforcement.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
×