Hundreds march in London supporting Palestine on Al Quds Day

Hundreds of people marched through central London on Sunday to show support for Palestine. The protest, held to mark Al Quds Day, began at Marble Arch and moved down Oxford Street. Protesters gathered near the BBC's Broadcasting House for a static rally. Many carried flags and banners, and chants filled the air. Among the demonstrators were a group of Orthodox Jews. Some of them held banners, and an Israeli flag was burned during the event. Hadia Saad, a 55-year-old protester, expressed her feelings about the situation in Palestine. She compared it to the struggle against apartheid in the 1980s and said she felt it was important to speak out for the Palestinian people. Another protester, Luba Majed, 42, called the actions against Palestinians inhumane. She emphasized that no group should be eliminated, regardless of political issues. At the same time, a counter-protest took place organized by the pro-Israeli group Stop The Hate at Oxford Circus. Counter-protesters also waved flags and banners and shouted slogans. Police separated the two groups to prevent any conflict and imposed conditions to reduce disruption to the public. In previous years, the pro-Palestinian rallies have faced criticism for controversial flags and signs. Last year, 10 people were arrested during the Al Quds Day demonstration, according to the Metropolitan Police.