UK police arrested over 70 pro-Palestinian protesters during a demonstration in central London on Saturday, just hours before the Gaza ceasefire was set to begin.

Metropolitan Police said that some arrests were made for "violating protest conditions, while others were related to offenses such as assault, supporting a proscribed group, and obstructing law enforcement". The police alleged that many of the demonstrators had attempted to breach the designated protest area.

The Metropolitan Police also claimed that organizers, particularly from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), had been planning a coordinated effort to exceed the rally's boundaries. Some protesters had moved from the designated area on Whitehall Street, near British government offices, attempting to reach Trafalgar Square, which had been restricted by authorities.

British police defended the arrests, with Met Police commander Adam Slonecki describing the situation as an escalation of criminal activity. "This is the highest number of arrests we have seen, in response to the most significant escalation in criminality," he said, adding that investigations would continue and prosecutions would be pursued.

Demonstrators carried placards with slogans such as "Stop arming Israel" and "Gaza, stop the massacre," while chanting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Met police exploits public order advantages in crackdown on protests

Originally, the protesters planned to assemble near the BBC headquarters and march through London to Whitehall. However, the London police prohibited the march due to its proximity to a synagogue. As a result, the PSC decided to hold a stationary protest instead.

The protest, although approved in November, was blocked by the Metropolitan police last week. The collective organizing the demonstration accused the Met of exploiting public order advantages to shield the BBC from public dissent for its misconduct and false news regarding the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. 

Citing Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekanthe, the London Standard newspaper reported that more than 1,100 police officers were expected to be deployed to ensure security at the demonstration.

Protest organizers criticized the BBC for failing to adequately represent Palestinian suffering, accusing the broadcaster of pro-Israeli bias. They also considered their marches as a way to hold the BBC accountable.

The arrest of over 70 pro-Palestinian protesters in London is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of intensified crackdowns on Palestinian demonstrations in the UK over the past 15 months of Israeli genocide.

In the wake of the brutal Israeli war on Gaza, UK authorities have increasingly targeted activists advocating for Palestinian rights. These efforts have included heightened policing of protests, arrests, and the use of legal restrictions to limit the scope of demonstrations.

The crackdown has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue that it undermines the right to peaceful protest and suppresses free expression.