Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched peacefully through central London on Saturday amid clashes between right-wing counter-protesters and the police as the former sought to disturb the peaceful protests.

The day unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions, fueled by Home Secretary Suella Braverman's characterization of pro-Palestinian demonstrations as "hate marches" and her calling for the event to be barred altogether after she called on the police to be tougher on such protests.

Though Braverman cited respect for Armistice Day, which marks the end of World War I, as the reason for wanting the Saturday demonstrations to be canceled, her anti-Palestinian sentiment is suspected to have been the actual reason behind her desire for the ban.

The clashes between police and counter-protesters carrying Union flags and the flag of England confirmed concerns that Braverman's comments would attract right-wing elements seeking confrontation with pro-Palestinian marchers.

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In response to the turmoil, Humza Yousaf, the first minister of Scotland, called for Braverman's resignation, blaming her for emboldening the far-right. "The Home Secretary’s position is untenable," Yousaf stated on X.+

The far-right has been emboldened by the Home Secretary. She has spent her week fanning the flames of division. They are now attacking the Police on Armistice Day.

The Home Secretary's position is untenable. She must resign. https://t.co/okPyA0MlpN

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) November 11, 2023

"She has spent her week fanning the flames of division. They are now attacking the Police on Armistice Day," he declared.

'Peaceful' British protests

London police arrested 84 people at one location to prevent a "breach" of the peace, while the total number of arrestees reached 120 people as police tried to stop far-right counter-protesters from ambushing the main rally. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist explained that certain counter-protest groups were intent on confrontation.

The largest demonstration yet by #Palestinian supporters has taken place in #London on Armistice Day. Police say over 300,000 people marched through the city on Saturday. Over 120 were arrested as they sought to stop far-right counter-protesters from ambushing the main rally. pic.twitter.com/7ifnEISWD1

— CGTN Global Watch (@GlobalWatchCGTN) November 12, 2023

The pro-Palestinian march, described as the largest of the sort in London, drew an estimated 300,000 participants. The demonstration stretched from Hyde Park to the US Embassy, which spans 5km.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley resisted pressure from political leaders to ban the march as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Braverman expressed concern that protests could spill over into Sunday's Armistice Day events at the Cenotaph.

Fights broke out near the Cenotaph on Saturday between police and right-wing protesters chanting "England till I die."

"They are chanting things like: England till I die, You're not English any more - at police officers"

Sky New report the only people causing disruption near the Cenotaph are far right protesters. pic.twitter.com/ptu6qje4s1

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) November 11, 2023

Police used batons to control the situation, and ceremonies at the memorial, due to the peaceful nature of the pro-Palestinian protests, were not interrupted. Clashes also occurred in other parts of the city, including Chinatown and near the Houses of Parliament.

Organizers of the pro-Palestinian demonstration took steps to avoid conflicting with Armistice Day events, ensuring the march moved off just after midday, following a two-minute silence observed nationally. The route from Hyde Park to the US Embassy avoided the Cenotaph.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, criticized Braverman for characterizing the protesters as extremists. He stated that the group had informed the police about their plans to avoid disrupting the Armistice Day commemoration.

Tory civil war

Braverman's comments not only stirred up tensions on the streets, but they also split her and Sunak's Tory party into two warring factions that are at each other's throats over whether she should be sacked for defying the cabinet or remain in it as some officials say the whole thing was orchestrated by a fellow Tory.

Allies of the Home Secretary said more than 50 MPs were on her side, attempting to help her keep her post, a day ahead of the biggest day of mass protests in the UK in support of the Palestinian people and against the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

This comes at a time when moderates among the ranks of the Tory party are angered by Braverman's remarks which stoked tensions before pro-Palestinian rallies, wherein she said the police should deal with them more sternly, while also publishing a highly controversial piece on The Times.

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Braverman submitted her piece to the biggest newspaper in the United Kingdom without making the changes requested by Downing Street, which drew the ire of many Conservatives, namely the moderate ones.

"The home secretary emphasised her full backing for the police in what will be a complex and challenging situation and expressed confidence that any criminality will be dealt with robustly," a source close to Braverman said, as quoted by The Guardian.

Protests ongoing despite threat of ban

Demonstrations have been roaming the streets of England for weeks now, since the Israeli occupation started its onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has thus far claimed over 11,000 lives, with the demonstrations being largely peaceful in nature.

Braverman, meanwhile, has accused London's Metropolitan Police of "playing favorites" for not cracking down on pro-Palestine protests. Braverman said that pro-Palestine demonstrations are "problematic" because of "violence around the fringes" and "highly offensive" chants. She had previously claimed that chants such as "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free," call for the extermination of Jewish settlers in occupied Palestine. 

Western officials such as Braverman have worked to demonize individuals and groups who call for the liberation of Palestine from Zionist occupation, saying that such justified demands are "anti-semitic".

In light of this, Tory moderates are dissatisfied with how Sunak dealt with his Home Secretary, criticizing his lack of decisiveness as Braverman shows paramount dissent as she tried to ban charities from giving tents to the homeless and even with regard to the issue of the pro-Palestine protests.