Police have been called in to split up pro-Palestine protesters after they clashed with Israel supporters during a march in Manchester.
Hundreds of protesters took the the streets earlier today in a women-led march, calling for an end to the war in Gaza, with some heard singing the controversial ‘from the river to the sea’ chant.
The rally started in St Peter’s Square and marched through the city centre where they met the pro-Israel demonstration on Market Street.
The two demonstrations were separated by lines of police as protesters and counter protesters exchanged angry words and riled each other up with opposing chants.
The pro-Palestine demonstration, which contained members of the Jewish community carrying banners in support of Palestine, later continued through the city centre circuit returning to St Peter’s Square.
Police have been called in to split up pro-Palestine protesters after they clashed with Israel supporters during a march in Manchester
Palestine anti Gaza conflict and pro Israel demostrations meet in Manchester Central UK on Market street
The two demonstrations were separated by lines of police as protesters and counter protesters exchanged angry words and riled each other up with opposing chants
A pro-Palestine protests also took place in the town centre in Dorchester today, which was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
A group of Palestine supporters also interrupted the Scottish Green Party Spring conference, Craiglockhart Campus, Napier University in Edinburgh, by holding placards that read ‘free Palestine’.
It comes after yesterday pro-Palestine protesters marched through London for Al Quds Day while Israel supporters staged a counter rally outside Parliament.
Around 1,000 activists gathered outside the Home Office in central London on Friday before marching towards Downing Street, with some carrying signs with the message, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’.
They later passed by a counter-protest in Parliament Square where dozens of pro-Israel supporters turned out, waving Israeli flags and chanting for the release of hostages being held by Hamas.
The Metropolitan Police said it made ten arrests during the protests on Friday, with one man arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after an Israeli flag was burned near the stage in Richmond Terrace.
Another man was also arrested after he was heard making a homophobic remark, while another man was arrested for assaulting an emergency worker.
The Pro Palestine march started in St Peter’s Square and marched through the city centre
The Pro Palestine demonstration, which contained members of the Jewish comunity carrying banners in support of Palestine, later continued through the city centre
Dorset Palestine Solidarity Campaign hold a rally in the town centre, on April 6
People hold a sign reading, ‘Stop the Genocide’ during the Dorset Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s rally
Dorset Palestine Solidarity Campaign hold a rally in the town centre, on April 6
Dorset Palestine Solidarity Campaign hold a rally in the town centre
: A man holds a sign reading, ‘Stop the Genocide’ during the Dorset Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s rally i
Palestine supporters during the Scottish Green Party Spring conference, Craiglockhart Campus, Napier University in Edinburgh
The Met said on X, formerly Twitter, that it had arrested a total of 10 people during the marches on Friday.
One man was arrested for failing to comply with conditions requiring counter protestors to remain in the designated area provided on Parliament Square.
Another two men from the counter protest were arrested suspicion of making threats to kill as the Pro-Palestine march passed by in Parliament square.
Two more men were arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after an Israeli flag was set on fire, while another man was arrested he was heard making a ‘homophobic remark’.
‘A number people who tried to prevent the man’s arrest were arrested for obstruction, the Met said.
The demonstrations came on the same day new public order powers to prevent ‘serious disruption’ at protests come into force.
Serious Disruption Prevention Orders are court orders that can impose restraints on individuals who have committed protest-related offences on at least two occasions.
This would potentially ban them from being in certain areas or being with protest groups at given times.
One man was also arrested for assaulting an emergency worker, who is ‘fortunately not seriously injured’, the force added.