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LONDON – The minister overseeing Britain’s largest police force has accused her of double standards and sympathy for pro-Palestinian protests, which she describes as “hate marches.”
Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, tens of thousands of protesters have flocked to the streets of London and other cities across Britain every Saturday to support Palestinians, particularly Gaza civilians caught in the crossfire of Israel’s war with Hamas. The United Kingdom has been an outlier in Western Europe in not banning these protests, but police have broad powers to arrest and disperse people. Since October 7, London police have made 188 arrests “in connection with hate crimes and acts such as violence” related to the protests in London.
Another march is planned for this weekend.
Suella Braverman, the British Home Secretary, wrote in the Times of London on Thursday that she did not believe these marches were just a cry for help for Gaza. Instead, they are an “assertion of the primacy of certain groups – especially the Islamists.”
In an unusual move, a spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters on Thursday that the Times of London article had been “not approved by Number 10”. The spokesman said the prime minister had “full confidence” in Braverman.
In the article she wrote, Braverman accused police of playing favorites in policing protests and said that right-wing and nationalist protesters were “rightly facing a harsh response,” while “pro-Palestinian mobs engaged in nearly identical behavior.” show, even be largely ignored”. when the law is clearly being violated.”
She continued: “Unfortunately there is a perception that senior police officers are favorites among protesters. Why were lockdown objectors given no mercy by public order police during the Corona crisis, while Black Lives Matters protesters were given the opportunity, allowed to break rules and even greeted with knee bends by officers?”
Opposition MPs called for Braverman to be fired over this rhetoric, which they said increased the likelihood of unrest this weekend.
A pro-Palestinian rally is planned for Saturday, Armistice Day, where the UK will honor soldiers who have died in conflict since the First World War.
The pro-Palestinian protesters calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war will start in Hyde Park, then cross the Thames and make their way to the US Embassy. Their planned route does not overlap with the memorial services near Downing Street.
European bans on pro-Palestinian protests lead to accusations of bias
Sunak said the march planned for Armistice Day was “disrespectful” and said he would hold Mark Rowley, the London police chief, “to account” for his decision to give the demonstration the green light. The police chief said banning the protest would require information indicating that serious unrest was likely, which the department did not have.
Yvette Cooper, Braverman’s counterpart in the opposition Labor Party, wrote on social media that the home secretary was “out of control” and that it was a “highly irresponsible and dangerous attempt to undermine respect for police at a sensitive time.” and to destroy operational readiness.” Independence and to stir up tensions in the community. No other home secretary from any party would ever do this.”