Police must answer for ‘unlawful’ arrests at pro-Palestine protest in London, says Amnesty
Amnesty International has raised concerns over the Metropolitan Police’s handling of last Saturday’s End the Genocide in Gaza protest in London, where dozens of demonstrators were arrested.
The demonstration saw thousands gather in London to express solidarity with Palestinians. However, police blocked plans to march from Portland Place to Whitehall, limiting protesters to a static demonstration.
More than 70 pro-Palestinian protesters were then arrested in Trafalgar Square on suspicion of breaching protest conditions.
The Metropolitan Police defended their actions, claiming there was a “coordinated effort” to breach restrictions imposed on the rally. However, protest organisers have vehemently denied this claim.
Kerry Moscogiuri, campaigns and communications director at Amnesty International UK, said: “In the run-up to the protest, we voiced concern about police imposing restrictions that risked unnecessary and disproportionate interference with demonstrators’ rights, which appeared to rely on legal powers that the High Court previously ruled to be unlawful but have been left in effect while awaiting an appeal”.
“There are now serious questions for the police to answer about their behaviour at Saturday’s protest and the lawful basis for the arrests of large numbers of peaceful demonstrators,” she said.
People attend a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire deal, in London, UK, January 18
Human Rights Watch says root cause of ‘apartheid’ must be addressed
Omar Shakir, director of Israel and Palestine affairs at the international watchdog group Human Rights Watch, has said that a ceasefire alone will not address the root causes of violence.
Human Rights Watch is one of several prominent human rights groups that have concluded in recent years that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians, something Palestinians themselves have long maintained.
“Ceasefire alone won’t end atrocities. Blockade must end, aid allowed fully in, electricity/water restored, hostages/detainees unlawfully held released, perpetrators held to account and root causes—apartheid—addressed,” said Shakir in a social media post.
The root cause is the lingering and now rising again racism and fascism in US/Europe. The apartheid system has been imported from Europe and protected by the USA. It started under British mandate in 1920, a century ago. Now Trump is likely only going to make it worse, giving Israel the green light to further annex the West Bank, fully supporting the colonial terrorist settler movement.
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